13 Air Conditioning Efficiency Tips for Homeowners

You might not think twice about cranking up the air conditioning when it’s hot outside—until you see your power bill. Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of the average U.S. home’s 12-month energy costs and up to 70% of your utility costs during the summer. If you’re tired of spending too much for air conditioning, follow these 13 tips to improve AC efficiency and save money on your monthly bills. 

1. Prioritize routine upkeep: Dirt and debris collect in your air conditioner over time, lowering efficiency. Make appointments for annual maintenance to have a professional clean your unit’s coils, exchange the filter, tighten electrical connections, lubricate moving elements and more. An annual inspection also allows your serviceman to find and fix any potential issues before they become major problems. 
2. Keep the outdoor unit free of obstructions: Loose debris and nearby weeds growing around your air conditioner can reduce airflow and make the system work harder. Look at the unit throughout the summer, trimming back vegetation and removing debris as needed to keep your cooling system operating effectively. 
3. Buy a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat permits you to set automatic temperatures based on your schedule. In the warm months, program a higher temperature when you’re away from your residence and have it resume a comfortable temperature before you get back. This reduces energy consumption and saves money without sacrificing comfort. 
4. Avoid overriding programmed settings: While you can always bypass the temperature on your programmable thermostat, try turning on a fan or shedding a layer of clothes before you change the setting. When you need to adjust the temperature, do so by merely a degree or two. Cranking down the temperature will never cool your home any quicker and only serves to squander power. 
5. Use the auto fan setting: While fan-only mode moves air to stop rooms from becoming stuffy, HVAC professionals recommend using this setting sparingly. “Auto fan” is the more efficient setting because the blower only runs when the rest of the AC does, preventing unnecessary energy waste. 
6. Stop solar heat gain: Closing blinds and curtains, getting outside awnings and applying window film helps block the sun’s heat to keep your house cooler. These strategies are most useful on south- and west-facing windows where the sun shines directly inside. 
7. Install the outdoor part of your system in the shade: Direct sunlight makes your system to work harder and lowers efficiency. So if possible, position the condensing unit so it’s shaded in the afternoon.  
8. Keep your air vents open: It’s a frequent misconception that closing the vents in rarely used rooms helps you to save energy. Unfortunately, this throws off the supply and return air balance, making your AC not as efficient. By and large, keep at least 80% of your registers open all the time and make sure no vents are hindered by rugs, curtains or furniture. 
9. Use ceiling fans along with your air conditioner: Ceiling fans move air throughout the room, producing a wind chill effect that makes you feel about 4 degrees cooler. This could allow you to turn up the temperature a few degrees without feeling hot, reducing your dependence on the air conditioner and minimizing your bills. 
10. Use a dehumidifier: High humidity causes a “cool but clammy” feeling, which is an uncomfortable sensation that may compel you to routinely lower the temperature. In reality, you need less humidity, rather than cooler air. Running a whole-house dehumidifier eliminates excessive moisture, making your home feel more comfortable for a fraction of the cost of air conditioning. 
11. Use natural ventilation carefully: When it’s hot and humid outside, keep your windows and doors closed to stop cool air from escaping. If you reside in in a place with cool summer evenings, open the windows and doors at night to cool off the house naturally, reducing the strain on your air conditioner. 
12. Seal air leaks: Leaky windows and doors give access to hot summer air inside of the house even when closed, making it much harder and more expensive to keep things cool. Seal leaks with caulk and weatherstripping to keep conditioned air in the house where it is supposed to be.  
13. Seal duct leaks: A typical home loses 20% or more of the conditioned air moving through it to leaks, holes and shoddily connected ducts. Reach out to a professional to seal your ductwork and stop this energy waste. 

If you still have comfort issues or extreme energy bills after trying out these tips, turn to Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for help. We can diagnose and repair air conditioning concerns, provide preventative maintenance, or replace your outdated, poorly performing system with a new, high-efficiency model. For your security, we support everything we do with a one-year 100% satisfaction guarantee! Call a Service Experts office near you today to learn more or request air conditioning services in the U.S..