Here in the Midwest – we’ve been experiencing some pretty hot and humid weather that is keeping our AC buzzing. While air conditioning is a huge blessing – it is also a huge money sucker. According to “Mr. Electricity” – Michael Bluejay – the AC uses more electricity than anything else in the home (16% to be exact).
But, there are ways to save money on your air conditioning bills. Here are a few that will help ease your pain too.
1. Keep the temperature higher.
When it’s hot outside we keep the temperature on the thermostat at around 78-80 degrees. This may seem pretty warm to some – but it’s really not bad. Especially when it is 90 or so out! Raise the temperature and you’ll be sure to save some coin.
2. Be sure your air conditioner is free of debris and other matter.
To ensure you are saving the most money when you are cooling your house, you’ll want to make sure that your AC is performing at its highest potential. One way to do this is to check that your condenser (the big “fan” that is typically outside your house or hanging out your window) is free of any particles or obstacles. Ours typically gets clogged with “cotton” from trees, grass clippings and other plants.
3. Check your AC’s energy efficiency ratio (EER).
Because they are such money hoggers – you want to be sure your air conditioning unit is energy efficient. Basically, the older your unit is, the less likely it is operating at an efficient level. Investing in a newer AC will pay dividends in the long run.
4. Watch what you place near your thermostat.
Everyone has the thermostat in different locations throughout their home. Keep in mind these are taking the temperature of the air around it. If you have a lamp or other heat-generating appliance nearby, it can fool the thermostat so that it never automatically shuts off the AC.
5. Try not to set the thermostat at a colder than normal temperature to “quicken” cooling.
Thinking you’ll cool the house faster by turning the temperature way down on the thermostat – just isn’t true. Plus, you may actually forget to turn the temperature up when your house cools down (costing you more money).
6. Use your AC with a ceiling fan.
The US Department of Energy has stated the use of a fan with the AC unit will help in keeping your house cool. We have a ceiling fan in our kitchen that we run during those hot days. The thing to keep in mind if you run yours too, is to make sure the fan is blowing the air down and not up. Your fan should have a setting where you can switch directions of the blades. Generally a counter-clockwise motion will be pushing air down.
7. Close vents in rooms that are hardly used.
It’s fairly obvious that if your AC unit has to cool more area in your home – the more you’ll be shelling out to the electric company. To ensure you aren’t overpaying – be sure you’re only cooling rooms that are in use. We close doors and vents to some of the rooms we rarely frequent.
8. Close those drapes!
A simple – but effective solution to keep the house cool without much effort is making sure those drapes are closed in the house. According to Bluejay, direct sunlight can raise the temp of a room 10-20%!
9. Turn the thermostat up at night.
Generally the temp at night-time is quite cooler than daytime temperatures. I remember when I lived in California – the drops were severe! Set the thermostat higher before you go to bed and you’ll save.
10. Are you properly insulated?
Having insufficient insulation can cost you money. Lots of your cool air can escape if you aren’t properly “covered” up. We recently put in more insulation and have definitely noticed the difference on our electric bill.
Are there any ways you save on air conditioning costs? Let us know in the comments below!
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Good tips. I just started a blog and my first post was also about air conditioning and the savings from higher thermostat settings. I figured that I save $1.10 per month for each degree above 72. Using the number six ceiling fan tip, I’ve been comfortable with my thermostat set at 80 degrees.
That’s awesome K – we have ours at about 80 too.
Central air machines will be easier to keep clean if you cover the cooling coils with plastic window screening held in place with magnets. The screen may be easily removed and hosed off and replaced within minutes. The cooling fins should only received a light spray of water as they are delicate.
Try to keep the central air machine cooler by placing it in the shade or plant a tree to shade it. A cooler machine means more efficiency.
Haven’t heard of that one Jim.. Thanks. I dunno if I’ll attempt that one though!
We also turn the temp up if we are going to be away from home for several hours. On west facing windows that get hot afternoon sun, we’ve put solar film. It makes a huge difference. And never, ever let the sun shine directly into the house.
Good thoughts Kathleen. We actually have a sun roof – and it does make er hot
Love the tips. We’ve been practicing most of them for years.
While we use the tip about keeping the drapes closed, I don’t like it. It feels like we’re shutting ourselves out from the outside world even more than we already do.
Any feelings on this?
Totally agree on the drapes. We follow it if we aren’t in a room but otherwise I’d rather have the openness and light. Unless it’s like 100 degrees, then I shut everything and hide in the basement.
My wife and I use our AC units combined with fans to spread it out. We could’ve gotten another ac unit, but we are saving a little electricity and are able to live with the room a few degrees warmer.
Keeping the temperature higher is a very important one. My mother had an AC technician tell her once that a typical AC unit can only get a house about 15 degrees cooler than the outside air in a reasonable amount of time. ANything beyond that and you are up against the laws of diminishing returns.
Good to know Jon – thanks
We live in an apartment. A/C is in the wall, all doors and windows face east, no cross ventilation. No ceiling fans either. What do you suggest? Our house is an oven even after the sun goes down. I have high blood pressure and the heat isn’t helping. Any suggestions for me???
A good floor fan would go a long ways. Also turning off lights or other electronics that are not in use can make a pretty big difference. Replacing incandescent bulbs with CFLs will reduce the amount of heat given off and the amount of electricity used. Other small things like eating cool meals, using the stove instead of the oven or even the microwave instead of the stove can also help.
I’m with K @ Get Worth. Get a floor fan or an air circulator. I’ve found Vornado’s do a terrific job of air circulation and cooling down a room.
30 years ago, I used to keep a reptile under a 100 watt bulb. The room was not used for any other purpose and I blocked the duct for heating and kept the door closed. When I walked into the room, I could feel that source of heat 10 feet away. Moral: turn off all sources of heat when air conditioning like incandescent bulbs, electronics, etc.
Great info Jim!
30 years ago I purchased a programmable thermostat and used it for about 10 years. The heat would dial down for when we went to work and dial up for our expected return, keep a steady temperature on weekends and so forth. I tried to calculate savings by using thermal days, the changing cost of natural gas and so forth. I concluded that once the house cooled down, it took more energy to bring the temperature, so there was little if any savings. I feel it was a net loss considering the price of thermostat.
I was gone for a month over the summer. The only natural gas was for the hot water heater that was turned down to “vacation.” The cost of natural gas was $5 but the bill was $30 with all the flat fees and taxes.