Ways to Reduce Your AC Costs in the Summer

With the hottest days of summer upon us, it’s hard to balance wanting to be comfortable with keeping your electric bill affordable. Sure, there are some days where you might not need to run your air conditioner, but those might be few and far between. When the thermometer rises till it’s unbearable, you need some good ways to keep cool without breaking the bank. Here are a few suggestions to do just that.

Run your air conditioner either sparingly, or only during the hottest part of the day. By keeping the thermostat at a lower level, you can save on the amount of electricity the unit uses. Even if it only saves a few dollars, every little bit helps. Consider shutting off or turning your AC on at night. If your unit has a timer function, set it to turn off around when the sun goes down, and turn it on again in the morning.

In addition to running your air conditioner more economically, consider using a ceiling, box, or oscillating fan in conjunction with your air conditioner. This can allow you to set the AC thermostat to a higher setting and use the wind-chill effect to cool your home those extra few degrees. Fans like this generally use less energy than your AC unit, and will have the same effect. Be sure to have a paperweight or two handy, though you can also use our air conditioning service Brandon!

Make sure you properly maintain your cooling system. Cleaning or replacing your air filters once per month will help ensure that your system is running at peak efficiency, thereby reducing your energy costs. If you’re using a ducted HVAC system, make sure that the vents in your home are not blocked by dust or furniture. Having fewer obstructions in the system means that it doesn’t need to work as hard to do the same job, thereby reducing the amount of energy necessary to run the it.

There are plenty of other things you can do to maximize your AC unit’s efficiency while minimizing the amount of energy needed to do the job, but start with these ideas. If you have any questions or need service to keep your AC running all summer, consider contacting the friendly professionals at Hinton for all your HVAC needs.