People often ask me, "how can I save money on my air conditioning this year?"
I get it. Energy costs are a big part of a family's budget, especially in a hot climate like ours. In the United States, the cost of air conditioning is close to $29 billion dollars a year!
No one has money to throw away. No one wants to spend money they don't have to spend - especially on something that doesn't show, like the air that surrounds you. But your comfort and your health are important, and both are affected by the air temperature and air quality of your home.
You have to run your air conditioning in the Florida heat to be comfortable.
So I know you're going to like these air conditioning tips to save money!
Check out these five ways to save money on your air conditioning bill.
Pay attention to your East / West-facing windows
Believe me. I’m no decorator, but I understand the value of “window dressing.”
Do your East and West facing windows have blinds, shades, or curtains on them? If they don't, consider installing some inexpensive blinds or drapes. Believe it or not, 76% of the sun that comes in through windows enters as pure heat, causing the temperature in your room to go up. When your room temperature goes up, your air conditioner works harder, costing you more.
As kids, we’re taught that the sun rises in the East and sets in the West. As adults, we can save money on AC if we follow the patterns of the sun and adjust window coverings as it rises and sets.
It’s so simple we often overlook it. Just keep the East windows covered in the morning when the sun is shining in. Open them around lunch, and then close the window coverings over the West-facing windows in the afternoon.
Harness the power of ceiling fans
Did you know that ceiling fans working in tandem with your air conditioning? Did you know that they can actually help lower your AC costs?
Ceiling fans don't decrease the temperature of the room, but they do help evaporate the moisture from your skin, making you feel cooler. You can turn the thermostat on your AC up by 4 degrees, and you'll still stay cool if you have the ceiling fan turned on.
Yes, I make my living in the world of HVAC and Plumbing, but that doesn't mean I don't want to make those systems as effective as possible. Using a ceiling fan is more cost-effective than running your air conditioner. An AC unit may run about thirty-six cents per hour. A ceiling fan runs for three hours before it even costs you one penny!
Here’s something cool. (Literally.) You can even get “smart” fans that you can control with an app through Bluetooth or Wifi!
Get warm to save cold cash
Would you like to save 10% a year on your ac bills?
Just turn up the temperature up for eight hours at a time. The Department of Energy recommends moving the thermostat can prove that keeping the thermostat at 78 degrees for at least eight hours.
You can adjust your thermostat before you leave for the day, but let’s face it, that’s just one more detail you have to remember before you walk out the door.
Make it easy on yourself with a programmable thermostat that can automatically adjust the temperature and help you save money on your ac.
And yes, ServiceOne can help you find the model of programmable thermostat that works best for your budget and your home.
Check out your cold air vents
This is another simple technique to help you save money on your ac bill.
Walk around your home locating every cold air vent in your house. Each room should have at least one, usually more. Stairwells, hallways, and foyers have cold air vents, too.
Once you know where they are, all you have to do is check to make sure that your cold air vents aren’t blocked by furniture or curtains. If they are, they are making your system work harder and costing you more money.
It’s a simple fix to clear the vents of obstructions.
Change your filters
Your air conditioning will work better with clean filters and will consequently cost you money.
You can save money just by changing your filters regularly. The industry standard is to replace filters every four to six weeks.
Keep in mind that the bigger the house, the more often you need to change filters. Larger homes circulate more air than smaller ones do, so their filters get dirtier faster than smaller houses.
Other factors influence how often you change filters.
- Do you have pets that release hair into the air?
- Do you live in a city that has more pollution or worse air quality?
- Do you have respiratory or health issues?
If the answer to any of those questions is “yes,” then you will want to change your filters more often.
No matter how hot it is, you can be comfortable without spending a fortune. Just use these guaranteed ways to save money on your air conditioning bill.
Call ServiceOne Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We're here to keep you in your comfort zone.