7 Ways To Save Money On AC Bills

Having an AC system set up in the home is not a luxury anymore. It, on the other hand, is necessary to live a comfortable life, especially during hot summers. However, running the air conditioner will inevitably result in higher electricity bills. And if you have been looking for ways to cut down the electricity consumption of the AC unit and save some money, then this article is for you.

Here, we’ll look at seven easy and effective ways to save money on your AC bills

1. Replace The Filter

The filter inside the air conditioner often becomes dirty over time. And if you do not clean it, the clogged filter will stress out the operation of the air conditioner. The AC unit will work harder to get the cool air into the rooms and this can lead to an increase in energy consumption. It could also cause your AC to break down, in which case you would need to find a company offering repair services (e.g. jakservices.com/flower-mound-air-conditioning-repair-service/) and pay for the repair bill. You can avoid this by regularly cleaning or replacing the air filter. When the filter is clean, the air conditioner does not have to work too hard to keep the room cool which, in turn, lowers its electricity consumption.

2. Use Blinds And Shades

If you have set up blinds or shades in your rooms, then be sure to draw them up and cover the windows when you switch on the air conditioner. This will limit the heat entering the rooms, thereby keeping the place cooler for a longer period of time. As a result, the AC will work optimally and use the least amount of electricity.  You can also go one step ahead and add films to all your windows. There are solar films available in the market that can significantly block out the heat from entering into your home. Treating all your windows with such solar films can drastically cut down your AC bills.

3. Choose Energy Efficient Units

Are you planning to buy an air conditioner and eyeing up AC installation services?  Make sure that you check the energy efficiency ratings before making the purchase. Some products like the Trane air conditioner have a very high energy efficiency rating, which means they consume the least amount of electricity. Although such products might cost a bit more than other AC units, investing in energy efficient systems will help you save electricity costs significantly.

4. Get A Programmable Thermostat

The temperature of the room is regulated by a component known as the thermostat. It will read the room temperature, check whether it is within the desired limits, and then instruct the air conditioner to adjust the cooling accordingly. As far as possible, you should get a programmable thermostat. You can set up these thermostats to automatically stop cooling the home under certain conditions. For example, you may not want the air conditioner to cool too much once two hours have passed since you hit the bed. By programming such preferences into the thermostat, you can cut down energy costs significantly.

5. Run A Ceiling Fan

Try to use a ceiling fan in the room together with the air conditioner. As per the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), a ceiling fan can make the temperature of a room 10 degrees cooler. And when you take into account that a fan only consumes about a tenth of the electricity used by an air conditioner, you should realize how useful a ceiling fan can be in reducing AC bills. Modern ceiling fans can also be controlled via smartphones and you can set the fans to run according to a specific schedule or triggers.

6. Turn Off Your AC At Night

At night, the sun is down and you don’t have to deal with the heat. As such, ask yourselves whether you really need the air conditioner or not during the night. Just open up some windows, let the cool breeze in, and turn on the ceiling fan. This should be good enough to keep your room cool and ensure that you have a great time sleeping. And given that an average person sleeps for about six to seven hours a day, you will understand how big a saving you can make by just switching off the AC at night. Instead, only use the air conditioners during the daytime when it is hot.

7. Seal The Cracks

No matter how efficient your air conditioner is, you will still get high energy bills if there are any cracks in the walls, windows or doors. The hot air can seep into your room from outside through these cracks. As a result, the room will never remain completely cool and the AC will be constantly trying to pump out as much cool air as it can to keep the room temperature within desired limits. This excess stress taken on by the air conditioner will force it to use more electricity, which will later spike up your energy bills.