Top 5 Ways To Lower Air Conditioning Costs This Summer

Top 5 Ways To Lower Air Conditioning Costs This Summer

Summer is just around the corner, which means the weather is going to start warming up and your air conditioning is going to get a lot more use. You may find an increase in your energy bill as a result. Luckily, there are ways you can lower your air conditioning costs this summer while staying cool and comfortable. Here’s how.

1. Use A Ceiling Fan

No matter the time of year, ceiling fans can come in handy. The wind-chill effect that a fan gives off can make your room feel 6-7 degrees cooler. This means you won’t have to use your AC as much to still stay cool this summer.

2. Invest In A Smart Thermostat

You can use your air conditioner more economically by having a smart thermostat. You can reset your thermostat to automatically change the temperature whether you’re asleep or away from the house to help save on those AC costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling costs by increasing temperature when you’re out in the summer and decreasing temperature when you’re out in the winter. A huge benefit of smart thermostats is that you can actually have temperatures return to normal automatically before you ever come home, or before you ever wake up.  This way, you and your family can avoid any discomfort while still saving on energy costs.

3. Maintain Your AC Unit

Much like your car, maintaining your AC unit is vital to its performance. You wouldn’t drive your car 10,000 miles without getting an oil change, would you? Taking good care of your AC unit will make sure it runs at peak performance all summer long. If not properly cared for, it can increase your cooling costs. Dirty AC filters can block airflow, for example, and make your unit work much harder to cool your home. This means higher energy bills as a result. Make sure you’re changing your air filters, cleaning around your outdoor unit, and scheduling annual maintenance to ensure it’s running efficiently all summer long.

4. Close Your Blinds, Curtains, and Shades

When you have your AC on, make sure you’re keeping blinds, curtains, and shades closed. The heat from the sun beaming down on your windows can make your home much warmer than usual. This means your AC will also run more than usual to achieve that comfortable temperature you’re looking for. Keeping blinds, curtains, and shades closed will help keep the sun out and so your AC can work more efficiently and economically.

5. Cook Outside When You Can

Using the stove or oven to prepare meals can generate a lot of heat and cause quite the heat buildup in your home. If you avoid using your stove and oven to cook on those hot summer days, your home will stay cooler. This summer, consider cooking outside when you can. Grilling hamburgers and hot dogs is a great way to prepare meals. If cooking outside isn’t an option, or it gets old after a while, using your crockpot, microwave, toaster and other appliances are a good alternative because they don’t generate as much heat as your oven or stove does.