13 Air Conditioning Efficiency Tips for Homeowners

You may very well 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 everyday U.S. home’s 12-month energy expenditures and up to 70% of your utility expenses during the summer. If you’re tired of paying too much for air conditioning, try these 13 tips to improve AC efficiency and save money on your monthly bills.

    1. Prioritize routine service: Dirt and debris accumulate in your air conditioner over time, decreasing efficiency. Plan annual maintenance to have a technician clean your unit’s coils, exchange the filter, tighten electrical connections, lubricate moving elements and more. A once-per-year inspection also makes it possible for your tech to discover and fix any potential issues before they become significant problems.
    1. Keep the outdoor unit free of blockages: Loose debris and nearby weeds growing around your air conditioner can reduce airflow and make the system work harder. Check the unit throughout the summer, trimming back vegetation and cleaning up debris as needed to keep your cooling system functioning correctly.
    1. Set up a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat allows you to set automatic temperatures based on your schedule. In the warm months, program a higher temperature when you’re away from home and have it resume a comfortable temperature before you come back. This reduces energy consumption and saves money without sacrificing comfort.
    1. Avoid overriding programmed settings: While you can always bypass the temperature on your programmable thermostat, try turning on a fan or removing a layer of clothes before you change the setting. When you want to modify the temperature, do so by only a degree or two. Cranking down the temperature won’t cool your home any faster and only serves to needlessly consume electricity.
    1. Make use of the auto fan setting: While fan-only mode moves air to keep rooms from becoming stuffy, HVAC professionals advocate using this setting sparingly. “Auto fan” is the more efficient setting because the blower only runs when the rest of the AC does, avoiding unnecessary electricity waste.
    1. Prevent solar heat gain: Closing blinds and curtains, getting exterior awnings and applying window film helps block the sun’s heat to keep your residence cooler. These strategies are most useful on south- and west-facing windows where the sun shines right inside.
    1. Install the outdoor unit in the shade: Direct sunlight causes your system to work harder and decreases efficiency. So if you can, position the condensing unit so it’s shaded in the afternoon.
    1. Keep your air vents open: It’s a frequent misconception that closing the vents in rarely used rooms saves energy. The truth is, 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 at all times and make certain no vents are hindered by rugs, curtains or furniture.
    1. Use ceiling fans along with your air conditioner: Ceiling fans move air throughout the room, creating a wind chill effect that makes you feel about 4 degrees cooler. This might allow you to increase the temperature a few degrees without feeling uncomfortable, lowering your dependence on the air conditioner and lowering your bills.
    1. Use a dehumidifier: High humidity induces a “cool but clammy” feeling, which is an uncomfortable sensation that may force you to repeatedly lower the temperature. Actually, you need less humidity, not cooler air. Running a whole-house dehumidifier eliminates excess moisture, making your home feel more comfortable for a fraction of the cost of air conditioning.
    1. Use natural ventilation carefully: When it’s hot and humid outside, keep your windows and doors closed to restrict cool air from escaping. If you live in in an area with cool summer evenings, open the windows and doors at night to cool off the house naturally, reducing the strain on your air conditioner.
    1. 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 is supposed to be.
    1. Seal duct leaks: A standard home loses 20% or more of the conditioned air flowing through it to leaks, holes and poorly connected ducts. Reach out to a professional to seal your ductwork and halt this energy waste.

If you still have comfort problems or high energy costs after implementing these tips, turn to Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for help. We will diagnose and repair air conditioning concerns, provide preventative maintenance, or replace your outdated, poorly performing system with a new, high-efficiency model. For your security, we support all the work that we do with a one-year 100% satisfaction guarantee! Reach out to a Service Experts office near you today to learn more or request air conditioning services in North America.

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