13 Air Conditioning Efficiency Tips for Homeowners
You may not think twice about revving up the air conditioning when it’s warm outside—until you see your electricity bill. Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of the average U.S. home’s 12-month energy costs and up to 70% of your utility expenses 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 bills.
- Prioritize routine servicing: 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 parts and more. A yearly inspection also enables your technician to identify and fix any potential issues before they become significant problems.
- Keep the outdoor unit free of blockages: Loose trash and nearby vegetation growing around your air conditioner can restrict airflow and make the system work harder. Look at the unit throughout the summer, pruning back vegetation and cleaning up debris as needed to keep your cooling system working effectively.
- Set up a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat permits you to set automatic temperatures based on your schedule. In the warm months, program a higher temperature when you’re away from your residence and have it resume a comfortable temperature before you return. This reduces energy consumption and saves money without sacrificing comfort.
- Avoid overriding programmed settings: While you can always override the temperature on your programmable thermostat, try turning on a fan or shedding a layer of clothes before you change the setting. When you have to change the temperature, do so by only a degree or two. Cranking down the temperature will never cool your home any more rapidly and only serves to squander power.
- Make use of the auto fan setting: While fan-only mode circulates air to prevent 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 unwanted electricity waste.
- Block solar heat gain: Closing blinds and curtains, putting in exterior awnings and applying window film helps block the sun’s heat to keep your residence cooler. These techniques are most useful on south- and west-facing windows where the sun shines directly in.
- 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 shaded in the afternoon.
- Keep your air vents open: It’s a often-held misconception that closing the vents in empty rooms conserves energy. Unfortunately, this throws off the supply and return air balance, making your AC much less efficient. As a rule, keep at least 80% of your registers open all the time and ensure that no vents are obstructed by rugs, curtains or furniture.
- Use ceiling fans in tandem with your air conditioner: Ceiling fans distribute air throughout the room, generating a wind chill effect that makes you feel about 4 degrees cooler. This may allow you to raise the temperature a few degrees without feeling uncomfortable, dropping your dependence on the air conditioner and minimizing 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 fact, you need less humidity, not necessarily 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 wisely: When it’s hot and humid outside, keep your windows and doors closed to stop cool air from getting out. If you live in in an area 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 allow 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 belongs.
- Seal duct leaks: A standard home loses 20% or more of the conditioned air flowing through it to leaks, holes and poorly connected ducts. Call a professional to seal your ductwork and stop this energy waste.
If you still have comfort issues or big energy costs after implementing these tips, turn to Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for help. We can diagnose and repair air conditioning problems, provide preventative 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! Get in touch with a Service Experts office near you today to learn more or request air conditioning services in the U.S..