5 Ways to Save Money on Air Conditioning Costs
Cooling your home in Southern California can be expensive. We live in a climate where it is warm for most of the year, meaning we need to run our air conditioner more often than those in other parts of the country. With the added expense, it’s important to understand different ways to cut down on cooling costs. We identified 5 easy steps to take to save money on your air conditioning costs.
1. Shade the sun
Although warm ambient air temperature can heat up your home, the largest source of heat comes from the sun shining on your home and through your windows. Because of this, if you can block the sun it will keep your home cooler. There are several ways to do this. You can plant trees on the east and west side of your home, preventing the sun from even getting to your house. You can also put screens or treatment on your windows to block the sun. Lastly, keeping your window coverings shut will help keep the sun out as well.
2. Use fans
Circulating air can help keep the house feeling cooler for you and your family. Ceiling fans can put off a strong breeze which can make your home more comfortable, having to rely less on the air conditioner to keep you cool. Additionally, if you have a extra hot, or cool, room in your home, you can circulate air in it to cool it off, or to use that cool air to keep the rest of your home cool.
3. Strategically open and close windows
Open your windows at night and in the morning, and close them during the day. It’s a simple, but effective formula for cooling your home off naturally. By letting the cool air in during the evening, your home is able to cool off to the outside air temperature. However, once the temperature starts rising, you need to close that cool air in to keep your home cool.
4. Seal and insulate your home
What good is it to run your air conditioner if it just leaks outside through cracks in your doors and windows? Having a properly sealed and insulated home can easily save you 10% on your energy bills. It keeps the warm air out and keeps the cool air in, requiring less energy to cool your home.
5. Upgrade your AC unit
If you have an AC unit that is older than 10 years old, you could be saving a ton of money on your energy bills. Newer AC units are much more efficient and can provide the same amount of cooling at a smaller cost. Additionally, it’s important to have a properly sized AC unit. We come across a lot of homes that have oversized AC units in them. This means they are paying to condition air that they don’t need. Upgrading to a properly sized, energy efficient unit is definitely something to consider as a solution to high energy bills.
Have questions about any of this? Please give us a call at 800-994-2577. We would love to help you in any way we can.