Especially during Florida’s brutal summers, more and more people will be turning on their air conditioning units. Air conditioners account for nearly 20% of your energy consumption, and with the higher demand during the hot summer months; you can expect to see a pretty big spike in your electricity bill if you aren’t careful about how you are using your AC. The following are some professional tips on cutting costs on your air conditioning bill.
1. Use Your Thermostat Properly
If you have central air conditioning that is controlled by a thermostat, you can use a programmable thermostat to save you a mountain of money by increasing the heat significantly during the day, while there is no one home. The contrast between the temperature outside and the temperature inside matters just as much if not more than the overall temperature in your home. Setting your thermostat to 78 degrees has consistently been shown to have a good balance between being comfortable, and also saving money.
2. Maintain A Clean Air Filter
Regardless of if you have central air conditioning, or a single room air conditioner, having a dirty filter will make your unit less efficient. A less efficient air conditioning unit will mean more money that you will be virtually just throwing away. It is always a good idea to check your HVAC air filter on a monthly basis, and expect that it will need to be changed every 3 months or so.
3. Get An Annual Maintenance Check-Up
Especially if you have a centralized air conditioning unit, having an annual check-up from an air conditioning specialist will likely save you money in the long run. It is much easier to fix a small potential problem before it arises than to try to fix it after it has already caused damage. It is highly likely that if the problem has gone unchecked for an extended period of time, you could have done extensive damage to your unit. Replacement units are not cheap, so we always recommend a quality maintenance plan or at the very least an annual inspection for damages.
4. Think About What You Actually Need
Cooling a single room that you spend the majority of your time in will cost you far less money than using a centralized air conditioner to cool your entire house. If you are in the market for a new air conditioner, think about how it will be used, and do some research into which type will work best for your energy saving needs.
5. Energy Star
Regardless of what type of unit you are buying, efficiency will matter. An energy star central air system will be able to cool you home and use about 15% less energy than the minimal required government standards. Paying the extra money up front for the more efficient unit will save you money in the long run.
Using these helpful tips you should be able to save yourself a pretty penny every month on your air conditioning expenses. If you have any questions or concerns about your air conditioning unit, you can always feel free to contact us, we will be happy to assist you.