How to Save Energy on the Air Conditioner in the Summer: 6 Tips
Are you spending more than you expected to run the air conditioner this summer? Get in touch with On the Double! Heating & Cooling, Lubbock’s reliable AC maintenance team by calling (806) 203-6512.
Working air conditioners are critical to surviving the Texas heat, especially at the height of summer when temperatures can soar well into the triple digits. Running the air conditioner constantly might keep you cool and comfortable on the hottest days and nights, but it can also lead to sticker shock when you open up the monthly electric bill. As you wonder how to save energy on the air conditioner in the summer, you may consider turning it off altogether.
Before resigning yourself to a hot and sticky existence to stop rising energy costs from draining more from your bank account, consider making a few changes to how you use your air conditioner. With a few simple adjustments, you can keep your cooling system running efficiently, stay comfortable, and enjoy energy savings and lower bills.
1. Invest in a Smart Thermostat
Installing a smart thermostat to control the air conditioner allows the system to automatically adjust throughout the day and operate as efficiently as possible while still maintaining optimum comfort. With a programmable thermostat, you can set a higher temperature during the day when no one is home and a lower one in the evening. Just these minor adjustments can make a big difference to your energy costs and reduce wear and tear on the air conditioner.
2. Use Ceiling Fans
Running ceiling fans uses significantly less power than air conditioners but keep rooms cool even at a higher thermostat setting. Ceiling fans help circulate the air and create a wind chill effect that allows you to set the thermostat up to four degrees higher without sacrificing comfort. You stay cool and comfortable without overworking the air conditioning.
3. Schedule Regular Maintenance
Scheduling an annual tune-up and cleaning for your air conditioning unit is one of the best ways to keep it running efficiently, extend its lifespan, and avoid inconvenient and costly malfunctions. During a maintenance visit, a technician will clean and inspect all the critical components, make sure the refrigerant levels are correct, and identify any potential trouble spots before they become a big issue.
Deferring or ignoring maintenance causes the air conditioner to work harder than necessary, which in turn causes it to use more power and drives up energy bills.
4. Avoid Heating the House
When you want to save money on the air conditioner in the summer, avoid activities that will raise the indoor temperature. Using the oven or other heat-producing appliances like the dishwasher or clothes dryer can increase the indoor temperature by several degrees and force the air conditioner to work harder.
Try cooking outdoors when you can, or save those chores for later in the day when the outdoor temperature drops.
5. Close the Shades
Another suggestion for how to save energy on the air conditioner in summer is to keep the window shades or curtains closed, especially during the middle of the day when temperatures are at their highest. Blocking the sun keeps your home cooler, so the air conditioner doesn’t need to work so hard.
6. Upgrade Insulation
If the seals around the doors and windows in your home are not airtight, you might be wasting energy. The more cool air that escapes through leaks and gaps in the weather stripping and seals, the harder the air conditioner has to work to keep up with demand. Replacing the weather stripping around doors and caulking around windows can make a big difference to your electric bill.
Check on the insulation in the attic, as well. If the space lacks insulation or the existing material is in poor condition, it could allow heat to fill your home and put more strain on the air conditioning unit. Replacing or upgrading the insulation is an investment that pays off in lower energy costs.
Get Professional Help With All Your Home Cooling Questions
If you need more advice on how to save energy on the air conditioner in summer, require AC repair services, or are thinking about upgrading your HVAC, call (806) 203-6512 to get help from On the Double! Heating & Cooling.
As Lubbock’s favorite heating and cooling contractor, we are proud to put our years of experience to work for local families so they stay as comfortable as possible in every season. Call whenever you need help, and we will be there “on the double.”
