6 Ways to Lower Your AC Costs This Summer

July 25, 2019

As the summer months are in full swing, so is your energy bill. We understand better than most that cooling your home in the summer can, at times, feel like a double-edged sword. While it certainly makes for a more comfortable experience, your AC expenses could be draining your bank account.

Even though you can’t control the heat waves that mother nature throws our way, there are things you can control to lower your energy bill during these hot summer months. We suggest these useful and effective tips and tricks to keep your home cool and your pocket protected.

1. Close Your Drapes

While the sun shining in through your windows certainly makes for a beautiful sight, it’s also letting additional heat into your home. We recommend closing your blinds or drapes when you aren’t home throughout the day to alleviate your thermostat from having to work extra hard to keep your space cool.

It’s also a good idea to close the curtains during the hottest part of the day or when your windows are receiving direct sunlight. Both of these will cause extra heat into the rooms of your home and cause your AC unit to work harder than necessary. All of these instances will add wear and tear onto your cooling system and, of course, spike your AC costs.

2. Use Fans

Believe it or not, sometimes you don’t need to crank the thermostat lower to feel the temperature drop. Did you know that a ceiling fan can make a room feel up to 10 degrees cooler by the breeze it generates?

Using ceiling fans, box fans, and circulating fans throughout your home can help you feel more comfortable in the summer months without having the overwork your cooling system. We also recommend using a fan while you sleep since most people prefer to sleep in cooler temperatures.

3. Program Your Thermostat

To avoid having an overworked AC unit and consistently high energy costs, it’s a good idea to program your thermostat to a higher temperature when you’re not home. There’s no point in unnecessarily cooling a home that is empty all day while you’re at work or away.

By raising the temperature by 5 to 8 degrees when you’re away from your where it’s normally set, you can save upwards of 20% on your next energy bill. Consider programming your thermostat to make the shift, coinciding with your weekly schedule, so you can avoid the inconvenience of constantly going back and forth, manually, on your thermostat.

Want to learn more about efficiently programming your Thermostat. We have also written: ENERGY EFFICIENT WAYS TO PROGRAM YOUR THERMOSTAT

4. Plant More Trees & Shrubs

Did you know that most of the heat that accumulates within your home comes from shining directly onto your roof or through your windows? One effective and eco-friendly way to add more shade around your home is by planting trees or bushes to block direct sunlight from your roof and windows.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, planting leafy bushes or trees to shade your home can increase your air conditioning unit’s efficiency by 10%. This sounds like a win, win; lower energy costs with less wear and tear on your cooling system and more trees, promoting cleaner air!

5. Avoid Cooking During Heat Waves

By heating up the stovetop or oven, you’re going to increase the overall temperature in your home, more so during a heat spell. A great way to avoid this issue is by utilizing the microwave, an outdoor stove, or reaching for cooler foods like fruits, raw veggies, salads, or smoothies.

If you must use the stove or oven, it’s a better idea to do so in the evening when the outdoor temperature is lower, and the sun isn’t beating down on your home.

6. Maintain Your AC Unit Regularly

While all of these tips are sure to help you lower your AC costs this summer, one thing is for sure: all of your efforts could be for nothing if you don’t properly and regularly maintain your home’s AC unit.

We recommend scheduling regular maintenance for your unit to ensure that all components are working properly and as efficiently as possible. When a component of your unit fails or does not work properly, this can cause a multitude of issues for your unit and your wallet. Especially in the hot summer months, it’s important to maintain your AC unit regularly.

We hope you utilize our tips and tricks for keeping a cooler home in the summer and effectively lowering your AC costs. These summer months can feel overwhelming, especially for your cooling system and it just may show on your next energy bill. We hope you can avoid a spike in energy costs by keeping these suggestions in mind.

Contact our skilled and experienced team to schedule your next AC unit maintenance today!

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