How to Keep Your Air Conditioning Costs Down

Is the cost to operate your central air becoming a burden? When run every day, your A/C could set you back an average of about $200 each month. Air conditioning costs homeowners, and the nation in general, a significant amount of energy. In fact, 5% of all energy produced in the U.S. is used for air conditioning. Of course, staying cool in a warm climate is not just a luxury for many people- it’s a necessity. So, keeping our A/C units turned off in order to save money is not a good option here in sunny Florida.

A lot of our customers ask us how they can lower their air conditioning costs. The fact is, running your air conditioning does not have to break the budget. You just have to make sure to operate your unit efficiently so that you get the best performance for your energy dollars. In our experience, the way to do that is to follow some easy steps. Here’s how to save 20-50% on your costs:

1. Regular maintenance- This is something you can do yourself or have a professional take care of for you. When you keep your A/C well-maintained, you’re increasing its efficiency by up to 30%. Our inspections generally include:

– Filters- Dirty filters are a major cause of inefficient operation. You can save 5-15% in energy usage just by cleaning your filters regularly.

– Fins- Coil fins can become bent over time, and this keeps air from flowing properly. Your technician can straighten then out during scheduled maintenance, or you can use a fin comb to do it yourself.

– Ducts- Gaps in your ductwork lower efficiency by allowing up to 20% of conditioned air to leak out. Check your ductwork and seal up any leaks so your A/C doesn’t have to work harder than necessary.

– Drains- Drains keep water and humidity from building up in your system and your home. Clogged drains allow moisture to accumulate, so be sure to check your drains and clean them out at least twice a year.

– Coils- Your unit’s condensor and evaporator coils absorb heat from your home, so they need to remain free from dirt and debris. Check both the indoor and outdoor units and clean them regularly.

2. Proper operation- Maintenance is one way to save money on air conditioning costs. It’s also important to properly operate your system. Don’t leave doors or windows open while running your A/C, and make sure the thermostat is set correctly. If your A/C unit can’t sense the temperature of the air coming into the coils, it won’t run efficiently.

3. Get an energy-efficient unit- Whether you’re installing a new A/C system or replacing on old one, an energy-efficient model will save you money. For instance, Energy Star units not only offer savings of up to $200 per year, they also may qualify you for tax credits of up to $1,500.

Air conditioning costs can be managed, simply by keeping your system in good repair and making wise choices about how you operate your system. Next time, we’ll talk about ventilating to keep your home and family cool when the temperature soars.

Questions about air filters or how to install one in your particular HVAC system? Contact Action Air for expert advice for Northeast Florida homeowners. Please visit our website to learn more or just pick up the phone.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).For more information about your sealing ducts ,Indoor Comfort and other HVAC topics,click here to visit our website