You don’t have to trade high heating bills for extreme AC bills every six to eight months. When you start smarter habits for cooling your home this summer, it won't cost nearly as much as it did last year.
These simple tips can reduce your air conditioning expenses without forcing your family to sweat it out on the hottest days. Some involve better daily habits. Others involve checking whether your air conditioner is working harder than it should.
Make these changes today so you save all summer long.
The beaming sun in your living room adds several degrees of heat to the entire house. Blasting the air conditioner to counter that heat is an inefficient way to keep the house comfortable.
If you’re worried about natural light, you’ll be pleased to know that even sheer drapes reduce heat transfer through windows.
If you aren’t using the spare bedroom or the office, draw your window coverings. In fact, do it all over the house on whichever side the sun is hitting. South- and west-facing windows tend to bring in the most afternoon heat, so start there.
Extra tip: If one side of your home always feels hotter in the afternoon, start by managing sunlight there before adjusting the thermostat.
The cool air inside your house can seep out small gaps between window and door frames rapidly.
You turn off the faucet when you finish washing your hands because dripping water can add up over time. The same happens with cool air. Every bit seeping out costs you money.
Check the common problem areas first:
A ceiling fan isn’t just for decoration. They can actually make your house feel up to 5 degrees cooler at only around 10% the cost of running the air conditioner to achieve the same result.
But it’s important you get the setup right. Run the ceiling fan counterclockwise to blow air straight down into the room and create that cool breeze.
Your thermostat may not show a lower temperature, but you’ll feel much more comfortable. That may let you raise the thermostat by a degree or two without noticing much difference, which can help reduce cooling costs over the season.
Just remember: fans cool people, not rooms. Turn them off when nobody is using the space.
Where does the thermostat hang in your house? If it sits on the wall opposite a big, sunny window, near a supply vent, beside a lamp, or close to a drafty doorway, it may send your air conditioner signals to run more often than it should.
Move/install your thermostat to a location:
A smart thermostat can also help if your schedule changes throughout the week. Many models make it easier to control cooling times, track energy use and avoid running the AC harder than necessary when nobody is home.
If your air conditioner is more than 15 years old, it might be the main reason your cooling bills are so high.
Older systems often run longer, cool less evenly and use more energy than modern high-efficiency air conditioners. In some cases, maintenance can help your current system run smoother. In other cases, upgrading to a new unit may save you more money in the long run.
A professional inspection can help you understand whether your AC is still worth maintaining or whether replacement is the smarter financial move.
Before you turn the AC down another few degrees, check the basics:
If you go through this list and your home still feels too warm, your system may need service.
You do not need to guess your way through high summer cooling costs. Appleby Systems can inspect your air conditioner, check system performance and help you decide whether maintenance, repair or replacement makes the most sense.
Contact us today. We’ll help you find the most practical way to keep your home cool and comfortable all summer long.
