You may not think twice about cranking up the air conditioning when it’s warm outside—until you see your electric bill. Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of the typical U.S. home’s annual energy expenses and up to 70% of your utility expenses during the summer. If you’re frustrated by spending too much for air conditioning, try these 13 tips to improve AC efficiency and save money on your monthly expenses.
- Prioritize routine service: Dirt and debris collect in your air conditioner over time, lowering efficiency. Schedule annual maintenance to have a technician clean your unit’s coils, exchange the filter, tighten electrical connections, lubricate moving pieces and more. An annual inspection also allows your technician to find and fix any potential issues before they become major problems.
- Keep the outdoor unit free of junk: Loose dirt and nearby flowers growing around your air conditioner can reduce airflow and make the system work harder. Look at the unit throughout the summer, clipping back vegetation and cleaning up debris as needed to keep your cooling system operating correctly.
- Put in a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat allows you to set automatic temperatures based on your lifestyle. In the summer, program a higher temperature when you’re away from your residence and have it resume a comfortable temperature before you get back. This reduces power consumption and saves money without losing comfort.
- Stay away from overriding programmed settings: While you could manually change the temperature on your programmable thermostat, try turning on a fan or removing a layer of clothes before you change the setting. When you have to modify the temperature, do so by merely a degree or two. Cranking down the temperature will never cool your home any faster and only serves to needlessly consume energy.
- Utilize the auto fan setting: While fan-only mode spreads air to stop rooms from becoming stuffy, HVAC professionals say that you should be 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.
- Prevent solar heat gain: Closing blinds and curtains, getting outdoor awnings and applying window film helps block the sun’s heat to keep your home cooler. These strategies are most useful on south- and west-facing windows where the sun shines right in.
- Install the outdoor part of your system in the shade: Direct sunlight makes your system to work harder and decreases efficiency. So, if possible, position the condensing unit so it’s out of the direct sunlight in the afternoon.
- Keep your air vents open: It’s a often-held misconception that closing the vents in empty rooms saves energy. However, this throws off the supply and return air symmetry, making your AC much less efficient. By and large, keep at least 80% of your registers open all 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 hot, dropping your dependence on the air conditioner and bringing down 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. In reality, you need less humidity, instead of 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 carefully: When it’s hot and humid outside, keep your windows and doors closed to prevent cool air from escaping. If you are living somewhere 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 inside of the house even when closed, making it harder 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 typical home loses 20% or more of the conditioned air inside of it to leaks, holes and poorly connected ducts. Hire a professional to seal your ductwork and put a stop to this energy waste.
If you still have comfort problems or high 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 concerns, provide preventive maintenance, or replace your outdated, poorly performing system with a brand-new, high-efficiency model. For your ease of mind, we stand behind all the work that we do with a one-year 100% satisfaction guarantee! Call a Service Experts office near you today to learn more or request air conditioning services in Melbourne.