You’re not ready for summer until your air conditioner is ready. Fortunately, Bay Heating & Air Conditioning is here to offer all the AC repair, replacement, and maintenance options necessary to ensure your system runs smoothly throughout the season. However, just because you’re going to be using your AC more doesn’t mean your energy costs need to skyrocket. Keep reading for the five best ways to reduce your AC bill this summer, and make sure to call our skilled HVAC technicians year-round for your heating and cooling needs.
The Top 5 Ways to Reduce Your Air Conditioning Bill:
- Leave Your AC Running When You Leave: We know it might sound crazy to suggest that you can actually save money by letting your AC run all day, but believe it or not, it’s true. If you come home on a hot summer day to a warm and stuffy house, the first thing you’re likely to do is crank the AC as low as you can, in order to cool down your home as fast as possible. This forces your system to work harder than normal, which will result in higher than normal AC bills. On the other hand, if you leave your AC unit on at a reasonable setting, generally around 72 degrees, your house will be perfectly comfortable by the time you get home, and your system won’t have to waste extra energy to cool your space.
- Raise Your Thermostat Setting: If letting your air conditioner run when you leave for the day seems counterintuitive, raising your thermostat temperature when it starts to get warm out probably does, too. However, it’s important to remember that your energy bill is already likely to go up somewhat over the summer because of your increased AC use. Turning up your thermostat can help to balance this out, while also creating even temperatures throughout your home. Consider adjusting your thermostat setting to 78 degrees as the summer heat sets in, and even raising it to 82 degrees when you aren’t at home but have left the AC on. Installing a smart thermostat can also help in this regard, as these advanced devices can actually learn your preferences and adjust automatically to meet your home comfort needs.
- Keep the Air In & the Sun Out: Did you know that American homeowners tend to lose anywhere between 35-30% of their cooling power in the summer and heating power in the winter just because of air leaks throughout their house? Although this may be a staggering number, there are things you can do to help reduce residential air loss. Have a professional look at your insulation and attic, for instance, and hire someone to see if you are dealing with any leaks in your ductwork. You can also prevent air loss by sealing and weather-stripping your doors and windows. Meanwhile, increase energy efficiency by closing your blinds, windows, and shades whenever it gets too hot out. Simply doing this can reduce heat gains in your house by 45%, which means less work for your AC and less money towards your energy bill.
- Use Ceiling Fans When It Isn’t Too Hot Out: Although the use of ceiling fans may sound like an obvious and perhaps even insufficient way to combat summer heat, you might be surprised how effective a well-placed ceiling fan can be. While air conditioning is essential when a heatwave sets in, ceiling fans are great for when it gets cool at night, or on more temperate summer days. And when working in conjunction with your AC, a ceiling fan can help reduce the temperature of a given room by 4-5 degrees, and increase airflow throughout your space.
- Call a Technician When You Suspect a Problem: One good rule of HVAC maintenance, and all equipment upkeep, for that matter: the longer you wait to deal with a problem, the worse it is likely to get. Scheduling regular HVAC maintenance can help your system stay energy-efficient, and calling for repairs right away will ensure your air conditioner lasts longer and works better. Fortunately, when it comes to energy-efficient AC service, you can always trust Bay Heating & Air Conditioning. We offer a variety of cutting-edge products, and our technicians are trained to maximize your system’s performance while keeping your monthly energy costs low.
To schedule your next energy-efficient AC service, call (440) 294-4954, or click here to send us a message online.