Perhaps you love having a cool house, but you hate what the air conditioner does to your electric bill. It can feel like a constant tug-of-war between saving money and staying comfortable, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Instead of sacrificing your wallet or your comfort, use these tips for bringing down your summer energy bills:
1. Use Fans
Your air conditioner and a household fan can be great partners. Setting fans near your air vents is an effective way to distribute air to the far reaches of the room.
If you have ceiling fans, check which way they spin. They should be set to go counterclockwise in the summer. That direction moves cool air down toward the floor.
2. Cover the Windows
Warm sunlight that streams through the windows looks nice, but it can really heat up a room. To save on AC costs, keep the windows covered during the sunniest parts of the day. You can use heavy curtains or window blinds for the job.
For even more shade, consider planting bushes or trees in your yard. Plants on the south or west sides of your house will be the most beneficial.
3. Change Your Temperature Settings
You can save a good deal on your electric bills just by bumping your AC up a few degrees in the summer. Try raising the thermostat by a degree or two. You may find that you can handle keeping your house a bit warmer than you’d thought.
Also, don’t maintain the same temperature 24/7. Raise the thermostat a few degrees before you turn in for the night. Bring up the temp before you leave for work in the morning, too. A programmable thermostat can automate this job for you.
4. Prioritize AC Maintenance
A clean air conditioner is a more efficient air conditioner. So is an air conditioner that’s in excellent working order.
An annual maintenance visit is an opportunity to make sure that your air conditioner is clean and ready to go. The best time to schedule a tune-up is in the spring, but it’s never too late.
One thing your maintenance technician will check is the state of your filter. You can continue to tend to it throughout the cooling season. Periodically putting in a clean filter will help you keep your cooling costs under control.
5. Check Where Air Is Escaping
Letting cool air escape from your home is a waste of money. Most importantly, keep your doors and windows shut when the AC is running.
If there are any gaps around vents or cracks in your window frames, fill them. You may also want to speak to a home pro about adding more insulation to your house.
6. Improve Your Ductwork
Open windows aren’t the only places where cool air can escape. Leaky ducts keep the air from going where you want it to go. A cooling professional can evaluate your ductwork to find and seal any leaks. Then, your cooling system will run more efficiently.
It’s also helpful to have clean ducts. Cool air can travel throughout your home more easily if dust and debris aren’t blocking its path. Dust your registers frequently, and don’t set any large items in front of them. Also, consider hiring a professional duct cleaning service.
7. Upgrade Your System
Air conditioners can often last for 20 years or more, but that doesn’t mean that you have to keep the same system for two full decades. If your air conditioner has been serving your family for several years, then it’s probably not as efficient as the models on the market today. AC efficiency has come a long way in recent years, and that can really save Aurora homeowners money.
When you’re considering air conditioner replacement, take a good look at Energy Star appliances. That rating provides an indication of which models will save you the most on cooling costs.
Service Plus Heating & Cooling in Aurora knows how important quality heating and cooling is to you. We make it our priority to offer top-notch furnace and air conditioner repairs and installations. Our team cleans ductwork and performs heating and cooling maintenance, too. We work on all makes and models, and we’re a Dave Lennox Premier Dealer. You can trust our technicians to be thoroughly trained and ready to help.
Book your appointment with Service Plus Heating & Cooling in Aurora online or over the phone today.