We’ve all experienced it; the frighteningly high energy bills that come along every single summer. Why does this happen? You expect high energy costs in the winter due to your heating being on, but isn’t summer supposed to be a time to save money?! You’d think so, but your energy costs can go through the roof as you use your air conditioner all the time. It’s almost always running to keep your home cool, and you start feeling like you can’t live without it.
Indeed, you’ve noticed that you need to use it less frequently, so you might turn it off now and then. However, within a few minutes, you soon realize that you can’t go on without the cool air as your home is just too stuffy and humid.
Is it possible to save money on air conditioning in the summer?
Yes, it is!
All you need are some smart tips and hacks that’ll help you reduce your AC usage and save a lot of cash.
Get an energy-efficient AC unit
Your money savings begin by selecting an air conditioner that will use less energy than a standard one. There are many different options out there, and this list showcases the top nine products in terms of their seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER). Effectively, you are looking for something that can keep cooling down your home without using up too much electricity. Believe it or not, but this is far easier than you think. A lot of old air conditioners are just awful in terms of energy efficiency, but modern ones are so much better. They can use systems that let the AC unit power itself for most of the day, but use up minimal amounts of energy.
Also, a good thing that’s mentioned on the list referenced above is that some units are solar-powered. The part of the unit that sits outside your home will have solar panels that generate energy to power the unit. Not only does this save money on your energy bills, but it can also help you qualify for a 30% tax credit. That’s something most people don’t realize; you don’t need solar panels to qualify for this credit, just having a type of solar installation will help you get it.
Set the right temperature
Do you really need your AC to be set to the lowest possible temperature? Some people feel that they must live inside a freezing cold home during the summer, as it is so hot outdoors. When your AC is set to a very low setting, it uses up a lot of energy. This is because the unit has to work harder to generate cold air at a colder temperature.
By contrast, increasing the temperature can save you a fortune. All it needs is a few degrees more, and you can make massive savings throughout the summer. Your AC unit doesn’t work as hard, but you can still be very comfortable. Most of the time, setting the temperature to 78 degrees is more than enough to feel cool without using up loads of energy. Or, another idea is to set the temperature as close to the outdoor temperature as you can. Of course, this will mean changing it day by day, but the idea is that it’s easier for your air conditioner to maintain a cool temperature if it’s close to what it is outside.
Believe it or not, but it’s suggested that setting your AC to a higher temperature – preferably as high as you can tolerate – could save you 10% on your summer energy bills!
Carry out regular AC maintenance
Every year, before the hot season starts, get your AC unit serviced and checked by a professional. This is absolutely essential as it means they can detect any problems and conjure up fixes before the summer season begins. Thus, they ensure that your AC is running at maximum capacity, rather than having lingering issues that mean it has to work twice as hard to maintain your temperature.
Furthermore, there are little things you can do throughout the summer to maintain your air conditioner. For instance, replace the air filters or give the units a clean now and then. All of this will help your air conditioner perform to its best level, allowing it to be as efficient as possible.
Check your windows
Your windows have a prime role to play when it comes to reducing the cost of air conditioning this summer. Firstly, make sure they are closed when your AC is running. Keeping your windows open – even just a smidge – can be devastating for your energy bill. It means cold air from your AC unit leaves the house, making it harder for the system to maintain your desired temperature. It has to work harder to present colder air to make up for what’s lost through the windows. So, keep them all closed when the AC is on to save money.
Moreover, you need to look at your windows in terms of insulation as well. The windows around your home are where most drafts occur – which means losing heat in the winter and letting cold air out in the summer. The same problem occurs here; cold air leaves through poorly insulated windows, the AC works harder. You might have to consider replacing your windows to make them more insulative. As shown on the Renewal by Andersen website, choosing a different window material – like Fibrex – can help make your windows better insulators. Therefore, you save money on air conditioning in the summer, and on your heating in the winter.
On that note, you’ve reached the end of this guide on how to save money on air conditioning every single summer. The tips are extremely simple and easy for you to implement, and you might not need them all. Getting an energy-efficient AC unit is the best place to start, then it’s a case of doing whatever you can to make the system work with as little effort as possible. In the end, you will be amazed by how much money you save.
What do you think?