Four Expert Air Conditioning Tips That Could Save You Money This Summer

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling costs account for 41.5% of the average homeowner's annual energy expenses.  This means that as temperatures start to rise, you can save a significant amount of money by taking steps to reduce your monthly cooling costs.  Use the four expert air conditioning tips below to shrink your energy bills this summer without sacrificing comfort.

Schedule Routine Maintenance.

Just like your car needs regular service to keep it running well, your air conditioner needs annual professional maintenance to keep it running at peak efficiency.  Regular maintenance, which is best scheduled in the early spring, includes checking the system's readiness, inspecting its components, cleaning parts and tightening connections as needed.  When your system is in top condition, it is at its most efficient.  This means it uses less energy and costs less to run than a system operating with dirty parts, faulty connections or other issues.

In addition to making adjustments to improve your system's efficiency, the technician performing the maintenance can check for existing issues that could result in big repair bills in the future.  By addressing problems before they become serious, you can cut your repair costs significantly.  

There is no point in wasting energy and money to keep your house comfortably cool when no one is home.  To avoid doing this, use a programmable thermostat to keep the house between 78 and 80 degrees while you and your family are home and awake.  Set the thermostat for a few degrees higher for times when you will be sleeping, and set it for up to 85 degrees when no one will be home.

By making small adjustments to your living space and habits, you can keep the temperature inside your home down without taxing your air conditioner.  Some good things to try include the following:

-  Keep the air conditioner's filters clean and free of dust.

- Close curtains and blinds when it is sunny.

- Turn off and unplug large appliances when they are not in use.

- Move furniture away from your vents.

- Do not use the oven on hot days.

- Keep your storm doors and windows in place when you are running your air conditioner.

If your system is more than 10 years old or  requires extensive repairs, you should consider replacing your old air conditioner with  a more efficient model.  Installing an Energy Star qualified system will not only make the need for costly repairs less likely, but it will also reduce your monthly energy consumption.  In fact, the Department of Energy estimates that replacing an inefficient heating and cooling system with one that has earned the Energy Star seal can save you up to $200 per year on your energy bills.