You might not think twice about turning up the air conditioning when it’s scorching hot outside—until you see your power bill. Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of the typical U.S. home’s annual energy expenses and up to 70% of your utility spending during the summer. If you’re frustrated by paying too much for air conditioning, try these 13 tips to improve AC efficiency and save money on your monthly expenses.
- Prioritize routine maintenance: Dirt and debris accumulate in your air conditioner over time, reducing efficiency. Make appointments for annual maintenance to have a specialist clean your unit’s coils, switch out the filter, tighten electrical connections, lubricate moving elements and more. A yearly inspection also enables your serviceman to discover and fix any potential issues before they become major problems.
- Keep the outdoor unit free of junk: Loose trash and nearby trees growing around your air conditioner can restrict 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 working correctly.
- Put in a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat helps you to set automatic temperatures based on your routine. In the summer months, program a higher temperature when you’re away from your house or apartment and have it resume a comfortable temperature before you get back. This decreases electrical consumption and saves money without sacrificing comfort.
- Stay away from overriding programmed settings: While you can always manually change the temperature on your programmable thermostat, try turning on a fan or shedding a layer of clothes before you change the setting. When you want to adjust the temperature, do so by merely a degree or two. Cranking down the temperature won’t cool your home any faster and only serves to waste energy.
- Utilize the auto fan setting: While fan-only mode circulates air to keep 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, preventing needless electricity waste.
- Block solar heat gain: Closing blinds and curtains, getting outdoor 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 unit in the shade: Direct sunlight makes your system to work harder and lowers efficiency. So, if you can, position the condensing unit so it’s in the shade in the afternoon.
- Keep your air vents open: It’s a frequent misconception that closing the vents in rarely used rooms helps you to save energy. However, this throws off the supply and return air balance, making your AC much less efficient. Generally speaking, keep at least 80% of your registers open at all times and ensure that no vents are obstructed by rugs, curtains or furniture.
- Use ceiling fans in conjunction with your air conditioner: Ceiling fans move air throughout the room, producing 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 unpleasant, dropping 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 compel you to routinely lower the temperature. Actually, you need less humidity, rather than cooler air. Running a whole-house dehumidifier takes away unwanted moisture, making your home feel more comfortable for a fraction of the cost of air conditioning.
- Use natural ventilation sensibly: When it’s hot and humid outside, keep your windows and doors closed to prevent cool air from getting outside. If you reside in an area with cool summer evenings, open the windows and doors during the night to cool off the house naturally, reducing the strain on your air conditioner.
- Seal air leaks: Leaky windows and doors let hot summer air indoors even when closed, making it harder and more expensive to keep things cool. Seal leaks with caulk and weatherstripping to keep conditioned air inside where it needs to be.
- Seal duct leaks: A standard home loses 20% or more of the conditioned air moving through it to leaks, holes and badly connected ducts. Call a professional to seal your ductwork and put an end to this energy waste.
If you still have comfort problems or high energy bills after trying out these tips, turn to Air Engineers Service Experts for help. We [can|are able to|will]130] diagnose and repair air conditioning issues, provide preventive maintenance, or replace your outdated, poorly performing system with a new, high-efficiency model. For your ease of mind, we support every single thing 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 Jacksonville.