You may very well not think twice about cranking up the air conditioning when it’s sweltering outside—until you see your electric bill. Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of the typical U.S. home’s annual energy expenditures 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 build up in your air conditioner over time, decreasing efficiency. Make appointments for annual maintenance to have a technician clean your unit’s coils, replace the filter, tighten electrical connections, lubricate moving parts and more. An annual inspection also makes it possible for your serviceman to discover and fix any potential issues before they become major problems.
- Keep the outdoor unit free of junk: Loose debris and nearby weeds growing around your air conditioner can restrict airflow and make the system work harder. Check the unit throughout the summer, clipping back vegetation and removing 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 routine. In the summer, program a higher temperature when you’re away from your house or apartment and have it resume a comfortable temperature before you come back. This lowers electrical consumption and saves money without losing 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 taking off a layer of clothes before you change the setting. When you want to modify the temperature, do so by merely a degree or two. Cranking down the temperature won’t cool your home any quicker and only serves to needlessly consume power.
- Make use of the auto fan setting: While fan-only mode circulates 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, preventing needless energy waste.
- Block solar heat gain: Closing blinds and curtains, installing outdoor awnings and applying window film helps block the sun’s heat to keep your home cooler. These techniques 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 can force your system to work harder and reduces efficiency. So, if feasible, 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 unused rooms helps you to save energy. However, this throws off the supply and return air balance, making your AC less efficient. Generally speaking, keep at least 80% of your registers open continuously and make certain no vents are hindered by rugs, curtains or furniture.
- Use ceiling fans in tandem with your air conditioner: Ceiling fans move air throughout the room, generating a wind chill effect that makes you feel about 4 degrees cooler. This could 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 fosters a “cool but clammy” feeling, which is an uncomfortable sensation that may influence you to repeatedly lower the temperature. In reality, you need less humidity, rather than cooler air. Running a whole-house dehumidifier removes excess 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 restrict cool air from escaping. If you live in an area with cool summer evenings, open the windows and doors at night to cool off the house naturally, reducing the load on your air conditioner.
- Seal air leaks: Leaky windows and doors allow hot summer air inside of the house even when closed, making it more challenging 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 moving through it to leaks, holes and shoddily connected ducts. Reach out to a professional to seal your ductwork and put an end to this energy waste.
If you still have comfort troubles or big energy expenses after trying out these tips, turn to Rob's Albertan Service Experts 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 support all the work that 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 Edmonton.