Summertime Air Conditioning Tips

More than any other system in your home, your air conditioner costs more money and uses more energy to run and keep you cool. As a rule of thumb 50% of your utility bill can be attributed to cooling your home. As those warmer summer days approach, there are a few things you can do to minimize the increased costs.

Regardless of the type of home comfort systems you have in your house, you can save money and increase comfort by properly maintaining and upgrading your equipment. Some of the local utility companies offer incentives for upgrading an older system. Your local cooling expert can tell you if you qualify.

Switching to an energy efficient air conditioning unit alone will not have as great of an impact on your utility bill as using an approach that encompasses your entire home. If you take the time to combine good equipment maintenance, upgrades with the right insulation and thermostat settings, you can greatly reduce your costs.

Here Are a Few General Cooling Tips:

Make good use of house fans. This includes ceiling fans, free standing and attic fans. Fans will help to circulate cool air through the room and even into other areas of your home. Fans can be particularly effective when used during the night when the outside air is cooler. If your attic seems to hold the heat, you may want to consider installing a ceiling fan. They can pay for themselves over time.

Set your thermostat as high as it comfortable for you and your family. The closer the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures, the less your heat pump needs to work to make up the difference. However, avoid the temptation to raise the thermostat when you are not in the house and then lower it when you arrive home. This will cause the heat strips to overwork and you are not getting the savings you are striving for.

Set the fan speed on your cooling unit to high. The one exception is when the weather is very humid in which case you want to lower the fan speed.

Be sure and keep lamps, computers and TVs away from the air conditioning thermostat. The heat from these appliances will cause a false reading from your unit and the air conditioner will come on more frequently than necessary.

You will want to shade the outside unit by planting trees or shrubs; however, do not block the airflow. An air conditioning unit operating in the shade uses up to 10% less electricity than one operating directly in the sun. Also, make sure there is space for a repair person to access your unit when you need service.

It is a good idea to close blinds or curtains on east, south and west-facing windows during the middle of the day when the sun's intensity is at its peak. During hours when the air is cooler outside such as early morning or evening, you will want to open your window coverings and let in the cooler air.

If possible, turn off the air conditioner vents in rooms that are unoccupied such as guest rooms. Although we mentioned not to raise and lower the thermostat during the same 24 hours, you should adjust the temperature when you will be away for an extended period of time. In the area where I live (deep south), many home owners leave their residence during the hotter summer months for cooler climates. Ask your Air Conditioning Specialist about installing a thermostat that you can program for the day you want to resume cooling your home. This will allow you to automatically turn on your unit when you know you will be returning.

In addition to these tips on keeping cool and lowering your utility bill, you may want to consider a home energy audit. Here some areas to consider:

Check the insulation in your walls, floors, and attic.

What is the quality of the windows - are they single or double pane?

Are your losing cool air around doors and windows?

Also check the quality of insulation in doors.

Integrity of ductwork, i.e. are there leaks? Also check the cleanliness.

Think about the use of "passive" solar energy.

Look at the use of curtains and other window coverings such as window film to prevent heat loss.

Check the efficiency of heating and cooling systems - Condition of filters, etc. - and change the filters regularly

You may also want to consider a maintenance agreement on your unit. I am sure you have heard the saying - "If it's not broken, don't fix it." You wouldn't apply this adage to the regular maintenance on your car; and you shouldn't apply it to your air conditioning unit. It is very easy to ignore maintenance when the unit is running smoothly, but regular maintenance can save you time, money and stress in the long run.


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