You may not think twice about turning up the air conditioning when it’s warm 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 tired of paying too much for air conditioning, practice these 13 tips to improve AC efficiency and save money on your monthly expenditures.
- Prioritize routine service: Dirt and debris build up in your air conditioner over time, decreasing efficiency. Plan 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 makes it possible for your technician to discover and fix any potential issues before they become major problems.
- Keep the outdoor unit free of blockages: Loose trash and nearby plants growing around your air conditioner can restrict airflow and make the system work harder. Check the unit throughout the summer, clipping back vegetation and sweeping debris as needed to keep your cooling system operating correctly.
- Install a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat enables you to set automatic temperatures based on your lifestyle. In the summertime, program a higher temperature when you’re away from home and have it resume a comfortable temperature before you return. This reduces power consumption and saves money without sacrificing comfort.
- Stay away from overriding programmed settings: While you are able to manually change 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 have to change the temperature, do so by merely a degree or two. Cranking down the temperature will never cool your home any quicker and only serves to needlessly consume electricity.
- Utilize the auto fan setting: While fan-only mode spreads air to stop rooms from becoming stuffy, HVAC professionals suggest using this setting sparingly. “Auto fan” is the more efficient setting because the blower only runs when the rest of the AC does, preventing unnecessary electricity waste.
- Prevent solar heat gain: Closing blinds and curtains, installing 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 right inside.
- Install the outdoor part of your system in the shade: Direct sunlight makes 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 frequent misconception that closing the vents in empty rooms saves energy. Unfortunately, this throws off the supply and return air equilibrium, making your AC less efficient. Generally speaking, keep at least 80% of your registers open at all times and ensure that 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, 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 hot, dropping your dependence on the air conditioner and lowering your bills.
- Use a dehumidifier: High humidity creates a “cool but clammy” feeling, which is an uncomfortable sensation that may influence you to routinely lower the temperature. In fact, you need less humidity, instead of cooler air. Running a whole-house dehumidifier takes away excessive 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 stop cool air from getting outside. If you are living in a place with cool summer evenings, open the windows and doors overnight to cool off the house naturally, reducing the load on your air conditioner.
- Seal air leaks: Leaky windows and doors let hot summer air inside 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 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. Reach out to a professional to seal your ductwork and stop this energy waste.
If you still have comfort issues or extreme energy expenses after implementing these tips, turn to Komfort Air Service Experts 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 new, high-efficiency model. For your peace 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 Charlotte.