13 Air Conditioning Efficiency Tips for Homeowners

You may not think twice about turning up the air conditioning when it’s warm outside—until you see your electricity bill. Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of the everyday U.S. home’s annual energy expenses and up to 70% of your utility expenses during the summer. If you’re sick of spending too much for air conditioning, follow these 13 tips to improve AC efficiency and save money on your monthly expenses. 

1. Prioritize routine service: Dirt and debris build up in your air conditioner over time, decreasing efficiency. Make appointments for annual maintenance to have a professional clean your unit’s coils, exchange the filter, tighten electrical connections, lubricate moving parts and more. A once-per-year inspection also enables your technician to identify and fix any potential issues before they become severe problems. 
2. Keep the outdoor unit free of obstructions: Loose dirt and nearby trees growing around your air conditioner can minimize airflow and make the system work harder. Examine the unit throughout the summer, pruning back vegetation and cleaning up debris as needed to keep your cooling system operating properly. 
3. Buy a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat allows you to set automatic temperatures based on your lifestyle. In the summer 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. Stay away from overriding programmed settings: While you can always manually change the temperature on your programmable thermostat, try turning on a fan or taking off a layer of clothes before you change the setting. When you want to modify the temperature, do so by merely a degree or two. Cranking down the temperature will never cool your home any more rapidly and only serves to waste power. 
5. Use the auto fan setting: While fan-only mode moves air to stop rooms from becoming stuffy, HVAC professionals suggest using this setting sparingly. “Auto fan” is the more efficient setting because the blower only runs when the rest of the AC does, reducing needless energy waste. 
6. Block solar heat gain: Closing blinds and curtains, getting outdoor awnings and applying window film helps block the sun’s heat to keep your home cooler. These techniques are most useful on south- and west-facing windows where the sun shines right inside the house. 
7. Install the outdoor part of your system in the shade: Direct sunlight makes your system to work harder and decreases 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 saves energy. Unfortunately, this throws off the supply and return air equilibrium, making your AC not as efficient. By and large, keep at least 80% of your registers open continuously and make certain no vents are obstructed by rugs, curtains or furniture. 
9. Use ceiling fans in conjunction with your air conditioner: Ceiling fans distribute air throughout the room, generating a wind chill effect that makes you feel about 4 degrees cooler. This might allow you to raise the temperature a few degrees without feeling uncomfortable, reducing your dependence on the air conditioner and bringing down your bills. 
10. Use a dehumidifier: High humidity creates a “cool but clammy” feeling, which is an uncomfortable sensation that may influence you to routinely lower the temperature. In reality, you need less humidity, rather than cooler air. Running a whole-house dehumidifier takes away unwanted 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 restrict cool air from getting out. If you are living in in an area with cool summer evenings, open the windows and doors during the 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: An average home loses 20% or more of the conditioned air inside of it to leaks, holes and badly connected ducts. Hire a professional to seal your ductwork and put a stop to this energy waste. 

If you still have comfort problems or extreme 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 brand-new, high-efficiency model. For your confidence, we support everything we do with a one-year 100% satisfaction guarantee! Contact a Service Experts office near you today to learn more or request air conditioning services in the U.S..