7 Tips for Lowering Your AC Costs and Increasing Efficiency

If you have an air conditioner, you know that it can cost a lot of money for you to run it. But there are things that you can do to help your air conditioner to be a lot more efficient so that you pay less each month.

Clean Around Your AC Unit

The unit is going to work much better if it’s been cleared of any type of debris and it’s cleaned at least every six months. Before starting this project, make sure that you turn the unit’s power off at your fuse box or breaker.

Remove large things like large branches from around the unit, then wash it down. If you really want it to be cleaned thoroughly, a professional can also do it.

Raise the Thermostat Temperature

If you increase the thermostat from 5 to 8 degrees during the winter and then down during the summertime, this can help with saving money. If your thermostat is programmable, this can be done automatically for various times during the day when you won’t be home for a few hours.

Keep any Appliances That Produce Heat Away from Your Thermostat

Keeping something like a lamp or another hot appliance close to your thermostat is going to tell it the home’s much hotter than it actually is and that it needs cooling down.

When you avoid putting these types of appliances close to your thermostat, it will stop it from working harder and running longer.

Keep Your Blinds & Curtains Closed

When it’s the hottest part of the daytime, the sun’s going to shine through the windows and heat up your home. If you’re keeping your window treatments closed, this is going to stop it from happening and help keep the thermostat from overworking.

Clear Out the Drain Line

You’ll find your drain line near the inside cooling coil. If you use a cupful of vinegar or dish soap to flush the drain out and then use a gallon full of water, you’ll be able to keep the line clean through the summertime.

Change Out Your Filter

Be sure that you are following the guidelines from your manufacturer on when the air filter should be changed to help keep your unit running smoothly.

When you wait too long to change it, it’s going to build up a lot of grime and dirt and this is going to reduce the airflow and slow your unit down. This is going to make your unit work harder and it will decrease the unit’s lifespan.

Insulate Any Exposed Ductwork

You should always be sure that your ductwork running through your unconditioned spaces has been sealed properly so that the conditioned air isn’t leaked. To fix leaks that you find, you can use duct tape. It’s also a good idea to hire a professional to find out what you should do for maintenance.

These are 7 things that you can do to help you save money and to have your air conditioning unit run more efficiently. You’ll see a big difference.