Money Saving Tips

AIR Conditioning

  • Change your a/c filters monthly. Dirty filters put unnecessary strain on your unit and will increase energy costs and shorten the overall life of your system.
  • Provide shade for your outdoor a/c system and you can increase that unit’s efficiency by up to 10%.
  • A cooling system is one of the biggest energy guzzlers in your home (second only to your heating system, depending on where you live). If you have an old air conditioning system with a SEER rating of less than 8, it may be worthwhile to consider replacing it with a more energy efficient system. You should be able to recoup the cost in just a few years.
  • Make sure the cooled air coming from your air conditioning vents is not obstructed by furniture or draperies.
  • Any heat that is generated inside your home has to be removed by your cooling system, so avoid generating excess heat inside your home whenever possible. Cook on your outdoor grill as often as possible, or use a crockpot and the microwave oven. Use the ‘air dry’ setting on your dishwasher. Turn off lights when not in use. Your computer and other home office equipment also generate heat. Turn them off when not in use.
  • The darker the color of your house, the more heat it will absorb, so if you’re building, buying, or considering repainting, choose lighter colors for the exterior.
  • Thirty percent of the heat in your house is absorbed through the roof. Make sure your attic is properly ventilated. Vents in the eaves allow cooler air to enter. A ridge vent or an attic fan can significantly reduce your cooling costs.
  • Install energy efficient ceiling fans and run them on hot days. If it’s just a little too warm for comfort, use the ceiling fan without air conditioning. If it’s hot enough to require air conditioning, using the ceiling fans at the same time allows you to raise the temperature setting by five degrees, further reducing your costs.
  • Make sure that the outside condenser coil is cleaned once a year. If it’s dirty, the A/C will run hot and inefficient. One sign of the coil being dirty is when the small exposed copper pipe, usually just 3/8″ in diameter, connecting the inside unit with the outside unit will be HOT to the touch. This should be handled by a professional as some parts of the outside condenser can be harmed by water entering moving parts.
  • If you notice ice accumulating on the indoor coil or the large insulated covered copper pipe, there may be a lack of air flow or you could be low on refrigerant. Lack of air flow can be caused by a dirty air filter, dirty indoor evaporator coil, dirty fan blades, or a damper in the ductwork restricting air flow. Call a professional to investigate.
  • Use bath and kitchen fans sparsely when you are running the air conditioning system. By running those exhaust fans continuously, you are removing cool air from the home in large volumes.