Save Money on Central Air Conditioning Bills

Potential for Savings - Air conditioners are responsible for the major part of most people’s electric bills during the summer months and heaters are responsible for a large part of the utility bills during the winter. While they can be significant there are several simple things you can do to cut back on our bills.

Maintain Your System - With the proper maintenance your air conditioning and heating equipment will work more economically and be dependable for years to come. With a few easy and routine procedures you can keep your unit at peak performance and get the maximum amount of comfort from your HVAC system.

 Get a Tune Up - To keep your central air conditioner and heater working to its fullest potential occasionally you need a tune up. If you choose to skip regular maintenance you will find yourself paying for a major repair down the line. If you skip your regular maintenance, you will cost yourself money and be inconvenienced in the long run. For maximum performance and long life have a professional perform needed maintenance on your air conditioner in the spring and your furnace or heat pump in the fall.

Have Freon leaks repaired - Leaks in your system will lower its efficiency and will only get worse with time. Freon is not a fuel source it is only a cooling medium and like the water in your radiator it should only need to be replaced if there is a leak.

Get a Programmable Thermostat - You should consider investing in a programmable thermostat especially if your house is empty for part of the day. This will allow you to set your unit to a more efficient temperature while you are gone and then have it drop back to a comfortable level thirty minutes before you are due to arrive home.

Some people also like to set a different temperature for when they are asleep then their waking hours. Most thermostats can be set for a particular day of the week so you can bypass your program or change it on days when you are home like weekends.

Set your thermostat a few degrees higher in the summer and a few degrees lower in the winter. Many experts agree that 78°F is a good starting point in order to save money. Every degree below 78°F that you set your thermostat for AC will increase your energy usage by around 8 percent.

Properly Seal your Ducts - Have your ductwork checked to see if it needs any repairs or if it needs to be replaced. If some rooms in your home are too hot or too cold, if the insulation is peeling or if there is a buildup of contaminates inside consider having your ducts evaluated to see if they need replacing. Also return grilles and grills in each room should be evaluated to see if they are properly sized and working correctly.

 Repair Air Leaks - You should have a professional examine your air conditioning unit and see if air is leaking out of it. Some experts report the average home leaks 30 percent of air that the AC and heating unit is putting out. This is a huge source of wasted energy that can be easily recouped.

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