In a world that seems to be getting hotter by the day, it’s hard to imagine a life without air conditioning.
We’ve gotten so used to using our AC units that if all our appliances conked out at the same time, we would likely call for home AC repair first, especially if it’s the middle of summer.
The comfort that air conditioning brings us during the hottest of days simply cannot be quantified.
However, the cost of running one is very clearly reflected in our monthly electric bills.
Air conditioners have always had a reputation for being power-hungry machines. If you make a list of all the appliances you use at home that consume a lot of electricity, your AC unit will likely be at the top.
When faced with skyrocketing energy bills, most people tend to consider giving up air conditioning. While the environment will likely thank you for that, your sweat-drenched body won’t and will tell you so emphatically.
If you have a perfectly working AC unit at home, you don’t have to give it up just to shave a few dollars off your energy bill.
Listed below are several tricks and hacks that can help you do just that without forgoing air conditioning.
Caucasian male removing a square pleated dirty air filter with both hands from a ceiling air duct. Guy taking out an unclean air filter from a home ceiling air vent.
REPLACE THE AIR FILTER REGULARLY
Regularly replacing the air filter may be the simplest AC maintenance task that you can do, but it’s one of the most effective ways of helping your air conditioner be more efficient.
The function of your AC unit’s air filter is quite crucial: it keeps dust and dirt from dispersing into the air that you breathe. It also prevents all kinds of debris from making it into the AC unit’s internal components.
Over time, the air filter will be covered in dust and dirt, which is why it must be replaced once it gets to that point. That way, airflow will remain great, and your AC unit won’t have to work so hard to do its job.
Air filters should be cleaned every two months, but if you run your AC more frequently, replacing it every month would be ideal.
USE DRAPES, CURTAINS & BLINDS
Direct sunlight entering our home is generally good, but the heat it brings can mess with your air conditioner.
If you want to spare your AC unit the hard work of compensating for the heat that sunlight brings, make good use of drapes, curtains, and blinds. They can help keep direct sunlight out and make it easier for your air conditioner to keep your home cool.
PLANT TREES
A detached home that doesn’t have at least one tree near it tends to be a scorching hot place. While curtains and other window attachments can help, few things are better at providing shade for the entire house than trees.
Consider yourself fortunate if you acquired a house that already has trees within the property. If there are no trees about, it’s never too late to plant a few, specifically ones with broad leaves.
Once the trees you plant grow tall enough, your home will get plenty of shade, which will help reduce the burden on your already hard-working AC unit.
TURN FANS ON
When the weather gets really hot, we all tend to set our AC thermostats lower to get the level of cool that we want.
The thing is, the colder we set the AC, the higher our energy costs will be.
However, if we turn an electric fan or two at home, the circulation of cooled air inside your home would improve, allowing us to be comfortable enough to set the thermostat a few degrees higher.
WEAR TANK TOPS AND SHORTS
Air conditioners keep you cool, but if you’re going to wear jeans, jackets, and long-sleeved shirts inside the house, you will likely need to turn the thermostat way down to stay cool.
How about wearing tank tops, shorts, basketball jerseys, or anything comfortable instead so you can keep cool even when the thermostat isn’t set to freezing?
Setting very low temperatures makes your AC’s compressor work longer, which will eventually impact its performance and efficiency.
Wear appropriate clothing indoors, and you’ll be doing your air conditioner a huge favor.
Our air conditioners are already doing us a huge favor. The least we can do is help make it easier for them to do their jobs efficiently, which will, in turn, give us plenty of energy savings and a longer-lasting air conditioning unit.
About the author
Sara Olsen is the Content Marketing Manager of Emergency Air, Arizona’s premier HVAC repair and service company with NATE-certified technicians and the best HVAC service in the quickest time. When not writing articles, she makes the most of her time with her family and gives back to the community.
Discover how Hi-Tech Plumbing, Air & Electrical can keep your home comfortable by calling (561) 220-3107 or sending us a message online.