Can you keep your home cool this summer without giving your utility company an arm and a leg?

Absolutely it is. But it does require a little effort on your end.

There’s nothing like living inside a pressure cooker, so we generally turn the AC up when it gets hot out. The U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts American households can plan to spend $422, or $141 per month, on electricity bills during June-August. In certain areas of the country where summers are scorching, it’s not uncommon to have your utility bills add up to several hundreds of dollars each month.

So, how can you ensure that your AC bill doesn’t break the bank this summer? There are a few things you can do to save on your air conditioning, namely in terms of helping your unit run in a more efficient manner, which will help save you some summer dough. Try these tips to cool down your bills with our summer energy saving infographic.

Running ceiling fans

When the indoor air temperature is higher than you’d like, a ceiling fan can be a cost-effective way to help your rooms feel cooler. When ceiling fans are being used in concert with a good air conditioner, you can raise the thermostat about four degrees with no reduction in comfort.

They not only can help to cool your home, but also reduce air conditioning bills. Its roughly around $0.01             per hour for running on high-speed assuming its a fan with lights. A central air unit typically costs about $0.36 per hour to run. Do the math!

Plant a couple of big shade trees near your house

This hardly will help your utility bills now, but it could make a big difference over time. Simply blocking the light from your windows will mean you need to turn your thermostat down.

The Department of Energy reports that shading your home with trees could boost the efficiency of an air conditioning unit by up to 10 percent. Some of the fastest growing shade trees are red maples and river birches.

Install a smart thermostat

If you haven’t replaced your old thermostat with a modern, smart one, such as a Nest thermostat, you might also consider making the switch. So when you’re not home, you can tell your AC to take a break with a smart thermostat, and save money. And you can change the settings on many smart thermostats remotely with an app on your phone or through verbal commands if you have smart home devices.

Thermostat placement

And if you’re already thinking of replacing your outdated thermostat with a smart thermostat, you might as well ensure that the thermostat you already have is on the right wall somewhere in your home. And the location of your thermostat can have a big impact on how your HVAC system runs during the day. If the thermostat is next to a hot glass window, your air-conditioning is likely to come on more often because it thinks the room is hotter than it really is.

The ideal location for a home thermostat is a centralized wall that isn’t near any windows or vents.

Think about your basement

Cold air is denser than warm air. Cold air will seep on down until it comes to the ground floor of your house and can’t squirm no more. So if you have a basement, why not hang out down there during the heat of the day. This will help you cut down the run on your AC by staying in cooler parts of your home naturally.

Also, consider closing any basement vents. Because the basement is cold in other ways, you don’t have to leave air vents or dampers open to receive the cooled air that the AC unit is producing.

Seal off any leaks

A drafty house is not one that is energy efficient. Fins and Cracks and Gaps Leaking windows and doors let air in and out of the house like it’s flowing in from a drive-thru window. Although doors and windows are the usual suspects, where brick or siding meet your home’s foundation can also be a source of leaks.

The ideal way to test your home for any leaks is to have a technician come and do an energy audit. These audits will examine all areas of your home and will also point out the energy waste your home has been suffering.

Evaluate your home’s insulation

Correcting an insulation issue could save you money on heating and air conditioning. The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association says 90 percent of single-family homes in the United States are under-insulated. A well insulated home will help you cut down on energy costs, good for the environment too.

For most homeowners, an attic insulation upgrade is one of their best investments. This home improvement does not only lower energy bills and increase home value; it can also help minimize greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

Regularly service your AC

Do you find yourself having to schedule more service calls for air conditioning repair? If you keep your system tuned, you are sure it will work right. Your AC works the hardest in the heat of summer, so be sure to schedule maintenance to run efficiently. If you haven’t had it serviced since last summer (or before) you could get caught in a very bad spot once the thermometer starts rising.

Steer clear of the oven and stovetop

When the temperatures outside skyrocket, refrain from using your stove or oven. These cooking devices raise room temperatures and can turn a warm kitchen into an even warmer house. Instead, grill outside or use the microwave to cook your meals on the hottest days. And when you do cook, use your kitchen exhaust fan if you have one.

Close the blinds and curtains

There’s nothing better than seeing a beautiful blue sky out of your windows, inside your home. But keep in mind that windows can also allow in the hot sun and raise indoor temperatures. Close blinds and curtains on the warmest parts of the day to avoid the sun’s rays coming through the windows. It also can help give insulation to your windows and prevent the cold or air conditioning from getting out.

So long as you know where to cut, you can shave off dollars from your monthly bills without living like you are camping. If these tricks still aren’t doing the trick, you may need to have an HVAC technician inspect your air conditioner.

Give Day & Night Plumbing a call at 505-974-5797 to schedule an appointment with one of our Home Comfort Advisors so they can assess your current HVAC system.