Sachin

Air conditioning units help make your home a more comfortable place to live in. However, almost 50% of your electricity bill comes from your air conditioning or cooling system according to the US Department of Energy.

Luckily, while having them at home can be expensive, there are many ways to save power and cost at the same time.

5 Tips to Maximize your Air Conditioning Costs

Here are some ways to minimize your air conditioning costs.

1. Clean the air filter of your air conditioner.

Air filters protect the AC units from bacteria, dust, and dirt in the air. The air filter can be clogged when not cleaned regularly. An AC unit with clogged air filter will require more energy to maintain the desired temperature in your home, thus increasing the time that it runs. The longer your AC unit runs, the higher the cost is.

As a general rule, clean or replace your filter once a month and have it checked annually by a professional. Maintaining your AC properly will help it run for a long time with efficiency.

2. Keep your windows and doors shut.

Make sure to keep them shut when going in and out of any room in the house with an AC unit running. If needing to open the windows or doors for a longer period time than normal, then turn off the AC first rather than have it running in an open space. You can always turn it on again later anyway.

3. Turn on the fan.

The electric fan helps in getting the air to circulate around the area faster than having the AC run on its own only. The faster the AC cools the room with the fan’s help, the shorter time it is going to run.

4. Keep your room or home as cool as possible.

You can do this by putting plants around your home. You can also plant a tree beside your AC unit to serve as a shade. By doing this, you didn’t only save money on air conditioning costs, you also helped the environment.

5. Use AC units with Energy Saver.

Older units do not have an energy saver. So if you are going to replace your AC, buy one that is equipped with energy saving system. When the desired temperature is reached, the thermostat automatically turns off but the fan is still on. AC units with Energy Saver are “intelligent” enough to shut down when not needed, which helps you save money.

As you can see, you can maximize your AC’s efficiency without having to deal with the headache of high cooling costs. Just keep these simple tips in mind and you are on your way to a comfortable life at a lower cost!

Written by APM Construction Services, a construction and home maintenance company that is the best choice for heating and cooling in Columbia, MO has to offer.