Ten Things You Can Do to Reduce Your Air Conditioning Bills

Keeping your home as comfortable as possible doesn't come easy. If you are not keen, you could be spending hundreds, if not thousands, that could be avoided. Air conditioning, for instance, is among the top consideration that could dig deeper into your pockets. Energy bills, especially during hot summers or cold winters, can quickly skyrocket. You are not sweating/freezing owing to your air conditioning unit's hard work, but you could be sweating/freezing your pockets. You can, however, implement some measures to reduce the air conditioning bills including;

1. Upgrade

Are you relying on that old "beast" that had your neighbors wondering how your home gets that comfortable through seasons? It delivers quite a knock, but it goes both ways as it chews through your finances. Upgrading to the modern system might seem like a considerable investment, but the initial injection is worth the returns as you can considerably lower the energy bills. The models are energy-efficient, delivering the same air conditioning effect if not better without denting your finances. 

2. Regular maintenance

Ducted air conditioning maintenance or a regular split system service goes a long way in reducing costly replacements as well as reducing your energy bills. Regular tune-ups, tightening the connections, inspecting the pilot system in the furnace, and checking the heating and cooling functions among other checkups could considerably improve your air conditioning efficiency. Your air conditioner won't strain, and in return, won't require a lot of energy to meet your demands.

3. Insulate

Is your roof cavity sucking the warmth or cool air in your house? Insulation can dramatically enhance your home's air conditioning. From selecting an effective roof insulation product to updating your windows and doors, insulating your property can lower air conditioning bills by easing the air conditioner's workload.

4. Keep it clean

Are your filters clogged? Dirt makes it harder for your system to work, meaning that it requires more energy to push air through.  Changing the filters after a few months, say three months is recommendable, but you could do it frequently during the hottest and coldest seasons as that demands more work. Keeping the system clean could lower energy consumption to over 12%, saving a considerable amount on your bills.

5. Program the thermostat

Most air conditioning systems come with programmable timers, a feature that eases your efforts to lower energy bills. Sure, you can manually adjust the thermostat, but how frustrating is it to wake up or get to the office only to note that you forgot to adjust? The programmable feature helps to lower the energy consumption when you are away or asleep, a simple but practical way to lower the bills.

6. Consider the windows

You've installed energy-efficient windows, but that's not the end. You can limit heat coming in by keeping the blinds/shutters and curtains closed, especially those facing direct sunlight.  This won't take up more of your time and energy, and keeping the heat out will help to lower the energy bills.

7. Heat specific rooms

Do you leave the air conditioner running to heat or cool every room in your house? That's quite inefficient, and you can avoid it by targeting specific rooms. You could even kick it a notch higher by having a head start by targeting a room, say your bedroom, a few hours before heading over, lowering the required workload to get to the optimum condition.

8. Ceiling fan

Are you a fan of ceiling fans? Well, they can help to lower your heating and cooling bills. During summer, set the fan to run counterclockwise to bring the cooler air down. During winter, change it to clockwise and at low speed. This will bring air rising to the ceiling back down, lowering your air conditioner's workload, hence more economical energy consumption.

9. Seal the leaks

Did you know that your house could be losing significant heat as it escapes through leaks around the windows, doors, and ductwork to mention a few areas? Check, for example, your door's weather stripping, can see the light coming in? That's where your heated or cooled air is escaping through, and sealing such leaks could save considerable energy bills.  

10. Avoid the stove/oven

Preparing meals is essential, but do you have to use the stove/oven during a hot day? If you can avoid it, it would help. Wait till later in the evening, and don't forget to turn the kitchen exhaust fan on.

Your home should be a comfortable space, but that doesn't mean you have to break your bank to achieve such comfort. With innovative and practical measures, you can lower certain costs and enjoy a fully functional and comfortable home.

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Created on May 6th 2020 06:54. Viewed 172 times.

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