How to Save Money on Air Conditioning

11 Useful Ways to Keep More Money In Your Pocket

By James K Kim

Since its invention in 1902 by Willis Carrier in Brooklyn, air conditioning is a modern day wonder that has vastly changed society by improving how we live, work, and play. 

Today, most of us can simply tap a screen or flip a switch and almost instantly cool off on even the hottest, most humid summer day. 

Nearly 90% of American households utilize some form of air conditioning to cool the home, with almost three quarters of those homes equipped with a central AC system. 

However, as we all know, the convenience of a more comfortable and healthier indoor environment comes with an increase in energy utility costs. 

Depending on your local utility costs, running a central air conditioning system for eight or more hours a day can surpass $500 per month. Add to this the fact that utility companies typically increase their rates during summer high usage months and it makes sense why you would be looking for ways to save on AC costs.

What can you do to lower your electric bill during air conditioning season?

Quite simply, you can run your AC less. 

However, doing this will not only sacrifice comfort, but could also dangerously impact those with specific health conditions. 

But the good news is, there are a few proven and relatively simple tips for saving money on utility bills when running your AC system during the hot summer months. 

1. Schedule your air conditioning maintenance with a qualified HVAC service technician

Just like a car, air conditioning systems are mechanical equipment that require regular maintenance in order to remain working at optimum levels. 

Daily use of the AC will inevitably result in wear and tear on the moving parts that require at least an annual look from an air conditioning service technician. 

Additionally, airborne contaminants including dust, pet dander, and other debris can collect within the AC system. This reduces its operating efficiency which makes it require even more power to provide cooling and raising your bills.

To prevent this from happening, have your air conditioning system professionally serviced to help you save money in the long-term as you run the AC year after year. 

A well maintained air conditioner utilizes less energy to run and requires fewer costly repairs while maximizing its operating life before its eventual replacement. 

This will ultimately save you more money than ignoring essential seasonal AC maintenance. 

2. Run Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are a very economical and simple way to circulate air to the home. 

When used in combination with the AC system, conditioned air can better reach certain areas of the home (such as bedrooms at the end of a hallway) that may struggle to cool. 

As a result of using fans, you may not need to run the AC system as long, ultimately saving you money in monthly bills while also extending the lifespan of the equipment. 

3. Close the curtains and blinds

The sun shining through windows heats objects in the room. As a result, the inside temperature collectively rises, making the room feel much warmer than other areas that are not as exposed to the direct sunlight. 

To prevent this solar heat gain in rooms, you can simply shut the blinds and curtains on your windows. 

This prevents sunlight from entering the room and increasing the temperature, allowing your AC system to run less frequently and saving you money on utility bills. 

4. Use a smart programmable thermostat

Upgrading to a smart programmable thermostat could save you almost 10% or more on energy bills during both air conditioning and heating seasons. 

Smart thermostats can measure the temperature in the home and automatically adjust AC output accordingly to maintain your preferred temperature set point. They can reduce your HVAC system’s energy usage (and monthly utility bills) while ensuring a comfortable indoor environment. 

5. Update to LED lighting

Older lighting is typically of the incandescent variety, which is not only inefficient but also produces a lot of heat. 

While one incandescent bulb is unlikely to make enough heat to make a large difference in the overall indoor temperature of the home, the same cannot be said for the dozens of incandescent bulbs that may be alight in a home at the same time. 

LED bulbs do not have as high of a heating output whole being more energy efficient. Switching your lighting over to LED will not only produce less heat for an AC system to overcome, but will keep even more money in your pocket from the annual savings. 

6. Seal up air infiltration leakage points

Chances are your windows and doors have very small gaps around the seals that can leak out the conditioned air, forcing your central air conditioning system to work even harder than normal. As a result, your utility bills will increase as your system struggles to maintain consistent and comfortable indoor temperatures.  

Most leaks can be detected with a simple visual inspection, however there are also companies that specialize in testing for leaks in a home’s thermal envelope that affect efficiency and energy costs. 

7. Utilize your basement

According to science, since hot air is lighter and less dense than cold air, the heat rises. As a result, the basement can be the best spot in the home to hang out during particularly hot and humid summer days. 

Many basements also have their own separate HVAC system to be comfortable year-round, such as a ductless mini split. 

If your home is designed with a finished basement for you to enjoy with TV, furniture, and space for hobbies and activities, then you can save money on air conditioning. 

That’s because, when you spend more time in the basement, then you will not need to run the whole-home central AC system as much; alternatively, you could only run a basement-zoned AC system.

8. Limit oven usage

It’s no surprise that ovens generate significant amounts of heat when in use. Some of this heat will escape into the indoor space, and it will force central AC systems to ramp up production in order to maintain the set temperature. 

Summer is the perfect time to give the oven a break and cook meals outdoors on a grill or BBQ. If the oven must be used, consider operating them at night when temperatures can be cooler. 

9. Block sun exposure with leafy trees planted around the home

When large trees and plants with leaf coverage are surrounding your home, the sunlight and heat transfer are blocked. 

This shade helps cool and enhance AC system efficiency by as much as 10%, according to U.S. Department of Energy studies. 

When planting shrubbery around the home, patience is key to allow branches to grow long enough to provide cover. If time is of the essence, then larger mature trees can be transplanted instead. 

10. Upgrade your AC system 

If your existing central AC system is 10 to 15+ years old, chances are higher that it will likely break down more often and is not running as efficiently as before. 

A new replacement system will likely be an upgrade in efficiency (be sure to look for the energy efficiency ratio or EER rating). 

If you’re open to the idea of increasing energy efficiency while enjoying maximum zone control capabilities, consider making the move to a ductless mini split system that can bring cooling and heating capabilities to a room by room basis. 

11. Set the thermostat to the recommended ideal temperature for saving money on AC

According to the US Department of Energy, 78 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature to set your thermostat to save money when running the air conditioning system. 

They determined this from the fact that many people may find 78 degrees Fahrenheit to be a somewhat comfortable temperature for an indoor setting without using too much power for running the AC. 

However, since everybody is different and may feel more sensitive at certain temperatures, an alternative to try is adjusting the temperature by just a single degree until a reasonably comfortable temperature setting is reached. 

This approach could still save some people about 2-5% on energy bills each month. 

Cottam Heating and Air Conditioning Can Help

Hopefully this list gave you at least some potential ideas to try and help you save money this summer when running your air conditioning system. 

However, it’s also important to note that an air conditioning system can only operate as well as its maintained. When the hottest, stickiest days of summer hit, you expect your air conditioning to work effectively and reliably. 

When you use Cottam Heating and Air Conditioning to service and maintain your air conditioning system, you can rest assured our technicians will thoroughly check, maintain, and if necessary diagnose and fix any issues that would negatively impact your AC system and indoor comfort. 

Schedule your AC maintenance with Cottam Heating and Air Conditioning today for peace of mind all summer long.