Running your air conditioner for prolonged periods increases your energy costs. The stunning truth is that AC accounts for over a quarter of your electricity bill. Residents in hot climates, like Tampa Bay, use ACs often to keep their homes cool. As a result, their cooling costs are high. Since over 27% of Florida’s energy consumption is spent on air conditioning, many homeowners are looking for quick solutions to reduce cooling costs.
The good news is that cooling your home doesn’t have to break the bank. Adopting the right practices will help you reduce your cooling costs. Our experts at Action Air Conditioning in Tampa Bay, Florida, will share ten ways to reduce your cooling costs.
1. Shut Off the Lights
When your house is well lit, it’s also adding heat to the air. So choose what lights stay on wisely, and when you aren’t using them, leave the lights off.
Only 2% of an incandescent lightbulb’s wattage is spent on the light it emits. The rest is pure heat. That’s because the filament inside reaches a whopping 4000 degrees Fahrenheit to turn white!
If you have ever been unfortunate enough to touch a lightbulb, you’ll know that they are scorching hot. A single second of contact with one can cause 3rd-degree burns.
A 100-watt bulb’s outside glass surface reaches well over 200 degrees. Fluorescent lighting is only half that temperature, but all bulbs are coolest when they’re switched off.
If you have trouble remember to turn off lights or use them for safety reasons, use dimmers and timers, or consider integrating smart lighting options.
2. Replace Light Bulbs
You can’t sit in the dark all day and night just to stay cool. When you do need to brighten a room, replace those incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient ones.
LED and compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL) are good alternatives. They not only burn cooler but use less energy to do so.
It’s a win-win situation with results you’ll notice on your energy bill.
3. Turn on the Fan
When used in conjunction with an energy-efficient AC, using your ceiling fans can greatly reduce your energy bill when used correctly.
There is a switch on ceiling fans that changes the rotation of the blades. That’s because the fans are designed to either pull up or push down air depending on the direction that the blades spin.
When they spin counterclockwise, they push air down and create a wind chill that reduces the feeling of the room by 4 degrees. That means even though your thermostat won’t say it’s cooler, you’ll feel an overall improvement in the temperature.
But don’t leave them on all the time. Remember, fans improve the comfort level in a room by making the temperature feel cooler to our bodies. If no one is present to feel the wind chill, the fans are using up energy.
So turn fans on in occupied rooms and shut them off before you leave.
4. The Ductless Mini Split System
If you own a small home or you live alone, a ductless mini-split system may be a more affordable AC solution for you.
These air conditioning systems do not cool an entire house uniformly like a traditional HVAC system. Instead, they only cool a single area.
When you have Action Air Conditioning install a ductless mini-split system in your home, you will choose what room receives AC. If you install more than one ductless mini-split system, you can control each room’s temperature independently.
Multiple units can offer peace of mind and safety on hot days for seniors and people with health conditions. Should one system need repair or replacement, another installed in a separate area of the home would secure a backup cool oasis of comfort.
When you only supply cooling relief to the rooms you use the most, you benefit from a considerably lower cooling cost overall. Cooling rooms independently gives you the freedom to choose where and when your electricity is being used.
5. Improve Home Insulation
Insulation is essential for reducing your AC costs. It creates a barrier that prevents cool air from escaping and heat entering your home. Poor insulation causes air leaks, making your AC work harder to keep your home cool. As a result, you will have higher energy bills.
The good news is that there is a way to prevent energy losses. Improving attic and wall insulation will help your home maintain a stable indoor temperature. This will reduce your AC’s workload, helping you save money.
In addition, seal gaps around windows and doors with weatherstripping or caulk. Eliminating those gaps will further minimize air leaks.
Lastly, consider installing thermal shades to block direct sunlight. Thermal reflects heat away from your windows and keeps cold air inside.
76% of the sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows becomes heat. So, it can accumulate indoors, making your home uncomfortable. Using these window attachments reduces AC usage, saving you money on utility bills.
6. Ensure Proper Ventilation
One of the best ways to reduce your cooling costs is to have proper ventilation systems.
Instead of drawing in fresh air from outdoors, ACs remove hot air from your inside to cool your home. ACs require proper ventilation systems for efficient air exchange. They help maintain a constant flow of fresh air indoors. ACs need ventilation so they don’t have to work hard to cool your indoor space.
Adequate ventilation keeps your system functioning optimally, minimizing your cooling costs. They also prevent attic heat buildup, regulate humidity, and improve indoor air quality.
7. Monitor AC Usage
If you want to reduce your cooling costs, you can adopt energy-saving practices. First, you can install a thermostat that monitors your AC usage.
Smart thermostats are Wi-Fi-enabled devices that modify AC temperature settings to save energy. They learn your temperature preferences and create a schedule that helps you save energy when you’re asleep or away from home. You can even change the settings remotely from a smartphone or tablet.
The benefit of smart thermostats is that they provide you with an AC energy summary. That information allows you to modify the settings to reduce energy costs further.
You can also purchase an energy monitor. These devices measure electrical energy consumption and display your AC’s power use in real time. The monitors will help you identify inefficiencies so you can maximize your savings.
8. Schedule Routine System Maintenance
System maintenance is essential for minimizing your cooling costs. Maintenance involves evaluating and servicing your air conditioner. During a walkthrough, technicians will inspect your unit and resolve any issues. This ensures your AC functions optimally.
Maintenance checks typically include the following:
- Changing air filters
- Sealing any leaks
- Checking system controls
- Cleaning evaporator and condenser coils
- Refilling refrigerant
- Inspecting condensate drain
- Cleaning and adjusting blower components
- Adjusting thermostat settings
- Tightening loose electrical connections
- Lubricating moving parts
Routine maintenance keeps your system operating at its best. In return, your AC won’t have to work hard to cool your home. Neglecting maintenance results in a steady decline in AC performance, increasing energy use. Regular AC upkeep can prevent you from paying for costly repairs and high energy bills.
9. Change your Air Filters
One of the biggest causes of high cooling costs is dirty air filters. A dirty filter significantly reduces AC efficiency. More so, it restricts airflow, forcing the system to work harder to circulate air. When your system is under strain, it consumes more energy, decreasing its cooling capacity.
One consequence of clogged air filters is dirty evaporator coils. Dirt can deposit onto the coils, affecting its ability to remove humidity and heat from your home. If they become too clogged, the system can freeze over.
Changing your air filters is the quickest way to increase your system’s efficiency and lower AC costs. AC professionals will change your filters during maintenance checks. Prioritizing system upkeep ensures your energy costs remain low.
10. Call the Cooling Experts
The best way to reduce your cooling costs is to have a heating and cooling system contractor that you can trust. Action Air Conditioning provides the Hillsborough and Pinellas County areas with superior service.
Our highly trained technicians can help you to determine what you can do to reduce your cooling costs and run a more energy-efficient cooling system. Whether you need maintenance, repair, or new unit installation, we can find a solution within your budget and walk you through the process. We guarantee that minor system tune-ups will not cost unreasonable amounts. There will be no hidden fees or surprises when scheduling a service call with Action Air.
If you’re ready to get started, contact us today to speak with one of our AC specialists or to schedule a FREE estimate!
Originally Published on: Feb 10, 2022