You’re getting the mail. As you’re flipping through the junk mail, grocery coupons, and ads for teeth whitening, you come across the utility bill from last month. Putting it off won’t make it go away, so you tear the envelope open and anxiously check the amount owed.
If you’ve lived anywhere in Texas during the summer, you probably know the exact scenario we’re describing. Paying our energy bills can be daunting, but even more daunting is the thought of trying to survive a Texas summer without AC.
Thankfully, there’s another solution: using your air conditioner efficiently.
3 Easy Ways to Save Energy and Money During Summer
Using your system efficiently may seem like common sense, but many cooling practices homeowners may think save money actually end up wasting it.
Stop Frequently Adjusting Your Thermostat
Adjusting your thermostat to different temperatures while you’re at home versus away can save money and energy. However, if you’re changing the setting on your thermostat multiple times a day, you’re likely wasting more energy. The EPA recommends the practice of ‘set it and forget it’ — AKA setting your thermostat to the desired temperature and leaving it alone to do its thing.
Don’t Forget to Change the Air Filter
Have you changed your air filter this season? Your air filter catches common air contaminants such as pollen, pet dander, dead skin cells, dust, dirt, and other debris and stops it from circulating through your air supply.
If you forget to change your air filter at least once every 90 days, you’ll end up with higher energy bills and an HVAC system with more wear and tear.
Don’t Turn the AC Off
Setting the thermostat to a higher temperature while you’re away from your house? Good, energy-saving practice.
Turning your AC off while you’re away from the house? Big energy-wasting habit.
Logic stands to reason that if you turn your AC off while you’re out and therefore unable to feel the effects, that you’ll save money on your energy costs. However, the opposite is actually true. By turning off your HVAC system, the temperatures in your home are allowed to soar unfettered. Why does this matter? It’s much easier to keep a home comfortable if it’s set within 10 degrees of the desired temperature. However, cooling a house down from 90+ degrees to 78 is a much larger order — it takes time and a lot of energy to get your home down to that level again. Long story short? Turn the thermostat up when you leave the house, but leave it running to save the most on your cooling bills.
AC Express is here to help you stay comfortable all year long! Contact our team for AC maintenance, repairs, and replacements.
