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 typical U.S. home’s annual energy costs and up to 70% of your utility expenses during the summer. If you’re tired of overpaying for air conditioning, follow these 13 tips to improve AC efficiency and save money on your monthly expenditures. 

1. Prioritize routine maintenance: Dirt and debris accumulate in your air conditioner over time, reducing efficiency. Schedule annual maintenance to have a professional clean your unit’s coils, exchange the filter, tighten electrical connections, lubricate moving pieces and more. A yearly inspection also enables your technician to identify and fix any potential issues before they become severe problems. 
2. Keep the outdoor unit free of junk: Loose trash and nearby weeds growing around your air conditioner can restrict airflow and make the system work harder. Look at the unit throughout the summer, trimming back vegetation and sweeping up debris as needed to keep your cooling system working correctly. 
3. Install a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat allows you to set automatic temperatures based on your routine. 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. Try to avoid overriding programmed settings: While you can always manually change the temperature on your programmable thermostat, try turning on a fan or removing a layer of clothes before you change the setting. When you want to adjust the temperature, do so by only a degree or two. Cranking down the temperature will never cool your home any faster and only serves to squander power. 
5. Make use of the auto fan setting: While fan-only mode moves air to keep rooms from becoming stuffy, HVAC professionals advocate using this setting sparingly. “Auto fan” is the more efficient setting because the blower only runs when the rest of the AC does, reducing unwanted electricity waste. 
6. Prevent solar heat gain: Closing blinds and curtains, getting outdoor awnings and applying window film helps block the sun’s heat to keep your house cooler. These techniques are most useful on south- and west-facing windows where the sun shines straight in. 
7. Install the outdoor unit in the shade: Direct sunlight causes your system to work harder and lowers efficiency. So if you can, position the condensing unit so it’s shaded in the afternoon.  
8. Keep your air vents open: It’s a common misconception that closing the vents in empty rooms helps you to save energy. Unfortunately, this throws off the supply and return air symmetry, making your AC not as efficient. Generally speaking, keep at least 80% of your registers open all of the time and ensure that no vents are blocked by rugs, curtains or furniture. 
9. Use ceiling fans along with your air conditioner: Ceiling fans distribute air throughout the room, creating a wind chill effect that makes you feel about 4 degrees cooler. This may allow you to turn up the temperature a few degrees without feeling uncomfortable, lowering your dependence on the air conditioner and lowering your bills. 
10. Use a dehumidifier: High humidity induces a “cool but clammy” feeling, which is an uncomfortable sensation that may force you to routinely lower the temperature. In fact, you need less humidity, rather than cooler air. Running a whole-house dehumidifier takes away excess moisture, making your home feel more comfortable for a fraction of the cost of air conditioning. 
11. Use natural ventilation sensibly: When it’s hot and humid outside, keep your windows and doors closed to prevent cool air from escaping. If you are living in in an area with cool summer evenings, open the windows and doors at night to cool off the house naturally, reducing the load on your air conditioner. 
12. Seal air leaks: Leaky windows and doors allow hot summer air inside of the house even when closed, making it more challenging and more expensive to keep things cool. Seal leaks with caulk and weatherstripping to keep conditioned air inside of your home where it needs to be.  
13. Seal duct leaks: A standard home loses 20% or more of the conditioned air moving through it to leaks, holes and poorly connected ducts. Call a professional to seal your ductwork and put an end to this energy waste. 

If you still have comfort problems or large energy bills after implementing these tips, turn to Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for help. We can diagnose and repair air conditioning issues, provide preventative maintenance, or replace your outdated, poorly performing system with a newer, high-efficiency model. For your ease of mind, we stand behind every single thing 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..