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AC Habits to Lower Your Electric Bill

Aug 13, 2020

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Summer temperatures in the south are a force to be reckoned with. You’re either sweating or shelling out every last penny of your paycheck for high utility bills to keep the air going. If you’re constantly stressed over summer power bills, here are a few ways to lower costs while staying cool. 

Install a programmable thermostat. 

Cooling an empty room or house is one of the easiest ways to raise costs unnecessarily. Programmable thermostats allow you to raise and lower the temperature in your home on a preset or custom schedule. If you get stuck at work and no one is in the home for another hour or two, you have the ability to keep the temperature higher from your phone and start cooling the home down on your way. It’s great for trips out of town as well and could potentially save hundreds of dollars per year on electricity bills. 

Raise the thermostat by a few degrees. 

You could save an average of 3% on your AC costs for every degree you raise the temperature in your home. It may be a simple habit to keep the thermostat lower, but try raising it up to 73 or 75 degrees to see how your bill is affected. Fans work wonders for circulating the air, so keep them on when you are home. Set fan blades to run counterclockwise in the summer so the air is pushed down. 

Close the windows. 

Unless you are enjoying a mild morning breeze, try to keep your windows shut during the summer. If they are open, more humidity will enter the home and useful cold air will escape. Tons of energy will be wasted by the overtime your AC unit has to work to try to keep the room cooler. 

Clean and maintain filters. 

It’s recommended to clean or replace your HVAC filter once per month, especially during the summer. Dust and debris hinder the ability for the unit to function properly and will cause the bill to be higher. Purchase filters in bulk packs so you won’t have to worry about running to the store every month for a new one. 

With these simple changes, you can expect a decent change in your utility bills over time.