6 Easy Ways to Save on AC Costs

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The summer heat is at its peak right now.

That means a lot of people are contemplating buying a new AC unit, but even more people are looking for creative and cost-effective ways to keep themselves comfortable in this heat.

When the temperature rises, so does your cooling costs. And with more employees working remotely from home these days, air-conditioners are running on full blast for hours on end.

Though it seems like we have no choice but to submit to skyrocketing energy bills for the summer months, there are actually plenty of easy ways to keep our homes comfortable without having to pay an arm and a leg to the utility company.

These tips will help you beat the heat for the rest of the summer while keeping your cooling costs in check:

1. Set the Right Default Temperature

Most homeowners set their thermostats to 72 degrees, but this setting is actually way too high according to the Department of Energy.

If you want to stay comfortable without drastically running up your electricity bill, keep your thermostat at 78F when you are at home and 7 to 10 degrees higher anytime you’re out of the house for more than two hours.

Keeping your house warmer while you’re away slows the heat flow into your home, so it’ll take less energy to cool it back down when you return.

2. Run the Fans

Do you constantly use fans at home? If you don’t, then you’re missing out on a massive opportunity to reduce energy consumption. Fans don’t cool a room, but they can make you feel a few degrees cooler via the wind-chill effect.

Opening your windows and using a fan for several hours a day instead of running your air conditioner could potentially save you hundreds of dollars per month. Moreover, running ceiling fans along with your AC unit can help disperse cooled air more efficiently and allow you to raise the thermostat by up to four degrees, without sacrificing comfort.

3. Keep Windows Covered

Glass windows can let the heat from the sun in and increase the indoor temperature even when they’re closed. This is why it’s important to close blinds and curtains when running the AC, especially during the hottest times of the day.

It can also help if you insulate your windows and install solar screens or mesh-like screens on the outside, particularly on east and west-facing windows. Window screens stop solar energy before they completely get through the glass.

Taking steps to prevent solar heat gain will result in significant energy savings.

4. Seal Leaks and Insulate Your Home

Drafts, cracks, and leaks in your home allow air to come and go, making it harder for your air conditioning unit to cool a room.

To prevent cooled air from escaping, make sure that your home is properly sealed and insulated. Check your doors, windows, attic, and basement for leaks and gaps. If possible, hire the services of a professional technician for an energy audit and to identify energy inefficiencies in your home.

Upgrading your home’s insulation is one of the worthiest home improvement projects you can undertake as this will not only reduce energy costs but increase your home’s market value as well.

5. Install a Smart Thermostat

Is your home equipped with a smart thermostat? If you haven’t made the upgrade yet, it’s high time that you do so.

Installing a smart thermostat is an excellent way to maximize your AC unit’s efficiency by allowing you to program and automatically change the temperature of your home at specific times of the day – cooler when you’re at home and warmer when the entire family is away. Many newer models even feature geofencing technology, which can detect whether someone’s at home or not and adjusts the temperature accordingly.

The device is connected to your home’s Wi-Fi network and can be controlled using a mobile app, so you can adjust the setting from virtually anywhere.

6. Service Your AC Regularly

Like every other appliance in your home, your AC unit also requires regular maintenance to continue functioning at its best.

You should clean and replace your air filters once every two or three months and schedule a professional AC tune-up and maintenance once a year. Ideally, before the summer season begins, when your AC has to work the hardest.

Dirt, dust, trapped debris, and any other issues in your air conditioning  system can raise your cooling costs. Proper care and maintenance will not only improve your AC system’s energy efficiency, but extend its life and positively impact the air quality in your home.

About the Author

Rachel Watson is the Senior Content Editor of New AC Unit. Aside from heading the company’s content marketing strategies, she writes articles about how to stay fit and energy-efficient home living.

936 thoughts on “6 Easy Ways to Save on AC Costs”

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