Southern California summer days can see outside temperatures that hover between 110 and 116°F. Running your home’s air-conditioner for long periods can quickly cause your energy bill to skyrocket. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to reduce your cooling costs and stay comfortable this summer.
Here are some of our favorite tips from our team to help you save some money on energy costs.
Tips for Better Energy Efficiency
Air conditioning is not just a luxury during the scorching summer months in Southern California. While we cannot tell you specifically what is wrong with your air conditioner without inspecting it ourselves, we can tell you some things that we see often that could be leading to higher energy bills. Here, we have listed some tips for how you should operate your air conditioner and some of the most effective advice we have assembled after many years of experience helping customers utilize best practices.
- Upgrade to An Energy Efficient Air Conditioner
Paying higher upfront costs for the most efficient unit possible (SEER 14 or higher) makes sense in hot climates since the initial investment will be paid back in energy savings over time. It makes less sense in cooler climates.
- Install a Smart Thermostat
To maximize your air conditioner’s efficiency, consider installing a smart thermostat that lets your cooling system do the work for you. A smart thermostat allows you to schedule temperature changes based on the time of day and adjust the thermostat even when you are away from home. A programmable device connects to your home’s Wi-Fi network and you can control it via a mobile app or voice assistant devices.
- Put Your Thermostat In the Right Place
Thermostat placement can have a significant impact on how your air conditioner functions throughout the day and thus, how much you’re paying for monthly air conditioning bills. A thermostat on a wall that receives a lot of heat from a window will be triggered to go on more frequently. Placing your thermostat in a cooler place, on the other hand, will ensure your air conditioner is not operating more than necessary.
- Utilize Fans
Ceiling fans circulate the air in a room, helping to create a cooling effect. They use far less energy than an air conditioner and can help your AC unit by redistributing the cool air it produces. Ceiling fans are also relatively inexpensive to purchase and install, making them an excellent investment for you to save money on bills.
In the summer, use the ceiling fan in the counterclockwise direction. While standing directly under the ceiling fan you should feel a cool breeze. The airflow produced creates a wind-chill effect, making you “feel” cooler. In the winter, reverse the motor and operate the ceiling fan at low speed in the clockwise direction. This produces a gentle updraft, which forces warm air near the ceiling down into the occupied space. Remember to adjust your thermostat when using your ceiling fan — additional energy and dollar savings could be realized with this simple step!
- Keep Curtains and Blinds Closed
As temperatures rise, it is important to keep your home cool and comfortable without breaking the bank. One of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce cooling costs is to close curtains, blinds and shades during the day. This helps to block out the sun’s hot rays and keep your home cooler. Making your house less warm in the summer will make your AC work more efficiently and will use less electricity. The first step for that is to find blackout curtains or shades to block the heat that passes through windows.
- Plant Shade Trees
Cut AC costs through your own sweat equity by shading your house with trees, trellises and vines. Shading blocks direct sunlight through the roof and windows, which is responsible for about half of the heat gained in your home. Carefully positioned trees and horizontal trellises on the east and west sides can save up to 30 percent of a household’s energy consumption for heating and cooling.
- Avoid Using Heat Producing Appliances During Hot Days
Many kitchen and laundry appliances produce heat that can cause your air conditioner to kick in more frequently throughout the day. You should avoid activities that result in heat accumulation and generation during the hottest times of day, such as using stoves, microwaving food and washing and drying clothes using machines inside the house. By refraining from these activities during the hottest times of day, you save money on electricity and put less strain on your air conditioner. To save energy, use your grill and microwave instead of the cooktop and oven as much as possible during the summer.
- Change the Air Filter
Air filters do just that — filter out tiny particles and debris generally undetectable to the human eye. This provides us with clean air circulating in our homes. However, these filters need to be changed about every six months in order to work properly. Clogged filters inhibit effective air flow and can lead to higher energy costs due to forcing your air systems to work harder to pump out cool air.
- Insulate Your Home Against Air Leaks
To prevent cool air from escaping, make sure your home is properly sealed and insulated. Check for air leaks around windows and doors and use a caulk gun to seal any gaps that could make your cooling system work overtime. Inspect the attic’s insulation and head to your local home improvement store to get more if needed.
- Get Your Air Conditioner Serviced Early
The number one air conditioning tip is to get your AC serviced each year. Do not wait until mid-summer when the temperature skyrockets and HVAC professionals are at their busiest. Putting off that service visit too long can result in you missing a small problem that can turn into a big one. Instead, have your AC unit serviced by an Aire-Tech repair professional. An annual service should keep your AC unit in peak condition, running efficiently and free of any costly preventable repairs so you can put your summer fun money toward something more enjoyable.
During this summer, you have to keep your system well-maintained all the time. This means replacing air filters regularly. You should schedule a maintenance visit from a qualified professional in the spring before you start using your system. Professional HVAC service technicians will perform tasks such as cleaning the coils to help improve efficiency and prevent breakdowns.
Final Thoughts
If your air conditioner is still not running properly and you are not experiencing better air conditioning efficiency after completing the above tips, it might be time to call a professional service technician at Aire-Tech. Our highly trained and skilled technicians will check your unit or units for proper air flow and coolant levels as well as clean internal coils and perform other repairs if required.
If your system needs repair or inspection before spring or summer, call us on 951-926-1002. You can also visit our Contact page and complete the contact form.