You may not think twice about revving up the air conditioning when it’s scorching hot outside—until you see your power bill. Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of the average U.S. home’s annual energy bills and up to 70% of your utility spending during the summer. If you’re frustrated by overpaying for air conditioning, follow these 13 tips to improve AC efficiency and save money on your monthly expenditures.
- Prioritize routine service: Dirt and debris accumulate in your air conditioner over time, decreasing efficiency. Schedule annual maintenance to have a specialist clean your unit’s coils, replace the filter, tighten electrical connections, lubricate moving elements and more. A once-per-year inspection also enables your tech to find and fix any potential issues before they become major problems.
- Keep the outdoor unit free of obstructions: Loose dirt and nearby vegetation growing around your air conditioner can minimize airflow and make the system work harder. Look at the unit throughout the summer, trimming back vegetation and cleaning up debris as needed to keep your cooling system functioning properly.
- Set up a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat helps you to set automatic temperatures based on your lifestyle. In the summertime, program a higher temperature when you’re away from your residence and have it resume a comfortable temperature before you come back. This decreases power consumption and saves money without losing comfort.
- Stay away from overriding programmed settings: While you could bypass the temperature on your programmable thermostat, try turning on a fan or taking off a layer of clothes before you change the setting. When you want to modify the temperature, do so by just a degree or two. Cranking down the temperature will never cool your home any quicker and only serves to needlessly consume power.
- Make use of the auto fan setting: While fan-only mode spreads air to stop rooms from becoming stuffy, HVAC professionals recommend using this setting sparingly. “Auto fan” is the more efficient setting because the blower only runs when the rest of the AC does, reducing unwanted electricity waste.
- Stop solar heat gain: Closing blinds and curtains, putting in exterior awnings and applying window film helps block the sun’s heat to keep your property cooler. These strategies are most useful on south- and west-facing windows where the sun shines straight inside.
- Install the outdoor part of your system in the shade: Direct sunlight can force your system to work harder and decreases efficiency. So, if you can, position the condensing unit so it’s shaded in the afternoon.
- Keep your air vents open: It’s a often-held misconception that closing the vents in empty rooms saves energy. The truth is, this throws off the supply and return air equilibrium, making your AC not as efficient. Generally speaking, keep at least 80% of your registers open all of the time and make certain no vents are hindered by rugs, curtains or furniture.
- Use ceiling fans in tandem with your air conditioner: Ceiling fans distribute air throughout the room, creating a wind chill effect that makes you feel about 4 degrees cooler. This might allow you to turn up the temperature a few degrees without feeling uncomfortable, reducing your dependence on the air conditioner and decreasing your bills.
- Use a dehumidifier: High humidity creates a “cool but clammy” feeling, which is an uncomfortable sensation that may force you to frequently lower the temperature. In fact, you need less humidity, not cooler air. Running a whole-house dehumidifier removes unwanted moisture, making your home feel more comfortable for a fraction of the cost of air conditioning.
- Use natural ventilation wisely: When it’s hot and humid outside, keep your windows and doors closed to stop cool air from leaking out. If you are living in a place with cool summer evenings, open the windows and doors at night to cool off the house naturally, reducing the burden on your air conditioner.
- Seal air leaks: Leaky windows and doors let hot summer air inside even when closed, making it more challenging and more expensive to keep things cool. Seal leaks with caulk and weatherstripping to keep conditioned air in the house where it should be.
- Seal duct leaks: A regular home loses 20% or more of the conditioned air inside of it to leaks, holes and poorly connected ducts. Call a professional to seal your ductwork and eliminate this energy waste.
If you still have comfort problems or extreme energy costs after trying out these tips, turn to Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for help. We [can|are able to|will]130] diagnose and repair air conditioning problems, provide preventive maintenance, or replace your outdated, poorly performing system with a newer, high-efficiency model. For your security, we stand behind everything we do with a one-year 100% satisfaction guarantee! Get in touch with a Service Experts office near you today to learn more or request air conditioning services in Gainesville.