Tips To Reduce Your Air Conditioning Bills This Summer
During the summer, the heat rises—along with our electric bills. When I was growing up, our parents would wait until the absolute last second to turn on the AC, all to avoid the energy bills that come along with running the system. Thankfully, modern HVAC systems are more energy-efficient, so cooling your home doesn’t have to break the bank the way it used to.
Granted, it takes some steps and effort to ensure your energy bills aren’t rising more than they have to. You may even notice when you look at your energy bills. Most electric comapanies allow you to compare your consumption to past years, and to your energy efficient neighbors. You can have 2 identical homes with identical cooling systems, but if one home and AC is better maintained, it will keep the energy bills lower.
In this blog, we’ll explore smart, practical ways to reduce your air conditioning bills this summer. Some are simple DIY tips to keep your home cooler without stressing the AC, and others involve hiring a professional to optimize your system. If you’d like help from the pros, contact Compass Heating and Air Conditioning at (630) 504-8688 or reach out online.
DIY Tips To Reduce Your Energy Bills
Let’s start with a few easy, low-cost actions you can take to keep your home cool and reduce energy usage—without touching your thermostat. These are mostly DIY, or “do it yourself” tips that you can accomplish on your own, without the help of a professional.
🪟 Use Your Blinds To Block The Sun
Direct sunlight through your windows can cause indoor temperatures to rise quickly. Close your blinds, shades, or curtains during the hottest parts of the day—typically from 11 AM to 4 PM. Blackout curtains or thermal shades provide even better insulation against the heat. This is especially important for unoccupied rooms. No need to have sun shining in on bedrooms or dining rooms you aren’t using during the day.
🔥 Avoid Using Heat-Producing Appliances Midday
Appliances like ovens, stoves, dishwashers, and clothes dryers generate heat. Limit their use during the hottest times of day, and instead cook meals earlier or later, or grill outside. This helps keep your home cooler and reduces the job for your cooling system.
🌬️ Use Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans create a wind-chill effect that makes you feel cooler even if the actual temperature stays the same. Make sure they’re rotating counterclockwise in the summer to push air downward. This allows you to raise the thermostat a few degrees while staying just as comfortable.
🏠 Seal Air Leaks
Cracks and gaps around windows, doors, and vents can leak cool air out and hot air in. Use weatherstripping and caulk to seal these areas. Even small leaks can add up and force your AC to work harder, costing you more on your utility bills. It also creates drafts and uncomfortable spaces if air is leaking. This is something you can take care of on your own if you are handy, or something you can hire a professional to help out with.
Tips That Require A Professional
While DIY efforts make a big difference, sometimes it takes an HVAC professional to help you perform some tasks that get the absoulte most out of your cooling system. Here are a few ways experts can help you save money and energy this summer:
🛠️ Schedule Routine Air Conditioner Service
Just like your car needs to be serviced every couple thousand of miles, your AC needs regular maintenance to run efficiently as well. During a tune-up, a technician will inspect and clean components, check refrigerant levels, and make sure everything is working at peak performance. They’ll let you know if anything needs to be replaced in order to avoid a breakdown, and make sure the system is in tip-top shape. This helps reduce energy usage and keeps the energy bills under control!
It also lengthens the lifespan of your AC, helping add value to your unit and save on a premature replacement for your cooling system.
📱 Install A Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats allow you to control your cooling schedule automatically or remotely. Many models learn your preferences and make real-time adjustments based on your habits. The use of data and learning, plus programming a schedule, will help reduce the amount of energy your cooling system uses. It’s also a great perk to have your thermostat connected to your smartphone or smart devices at home like Amazon Alexa or Google Home. These add another layer of convienience when it comes to adjusting your thermostat.
🧱 Add Insulation
If your home isn’t properly insulated, it could lead to hundreds, or even thousands of extra dollars being spent cooling (and heating) your home. Insufficient attic or wall insulation allows heat to seep in, making your AC work overtime. We recommend having a professional assess your insulation, and let you know if you need to upgrade or adjust it.
🪟 Install Energy-Efficient Windows
Old, drafty windows are often a major source of heat gain. Upgrading to double- or triple-pane windows with low-E glass can significantly reduce the heat that enters your home, lightening the load on your AC and improving your overall comfort. This can become an expensive project, but one that will improve your comfort, and also reduce energy bills throughout the summer and winter. This is a major upgrade for your home, and one that will also improve its resale value.
Schedule AC Service In Elgin, IL
If you’re serious about lowering your summer energy bills and staying cool, scheduling routine HVAC service is the best way to achive that. At Compass Heating and Air Conditioning, we’ve helped homeowners in Elgin, IL, and surrounding areas stay comfortable while saving energy for over 15 years. Whether you need a simple tune-up or a full AC system upgrade, we’ve got you covered.
📞 Call us at (630) 504-8688 or schedule service online today to get your air conditioner in top shape before the next heat wave hits.