Warmer days ahead mean one thing — higher cooling costs. Cranking up your air conditioner and running it all day to beat the heat will raise your electric bill. With timely air conditioner services, your AC will run more efficiently and keep down cooling costs. But you can improve your unit’s energy efficiency further by following a few no-cost tips.

How to Improve AC Efficiency for Free

1. Clean

Like most machines, your outdoor cooling unit will work more efficiently if it’s cleared of any debris. Remove the unit's panel and clear away grime and dirt from its inner components for sufficient ventilation and proper airflow. Then, take your cleaning inside and vacuum the dirt from the air supply vents. Change the air filters as well to maintain clean airflow to the unit. Call for air conditioner services if your cooling system requires more work and in-depth cleaning.

2. Keep Window Treatments Closed

Put your curtains and blinds to work by keeping them closed during the hottest parts of the day. Daylight coming in from the windows quickly heats up your home, forcing your AC to work harder.

3. Run the Fans

Don’t let your AC single-handedly take on the job of cooling your home. Instead, use your ceiling fans to circulate treated air inside the room. Set your fan to turn in a counterclockwise direction to pull up cool air and disperse it. Creating a breeze inside means you can raise your thermostat without getting too hot.

4. Track Your Thermostat

If you have a programmable thermostat, take advantage of its handy features. Set it at higher temperatures whenever you leave the house, so your AC won’t work as hard to cool the home when no one is there. Then, have it automatically adjust to comfortable levels once you get home, saving you on energy costs in the process. If you don’t have a smart thermostat, get one from your air conditioner service contractor.

5. Skip Using the Dryer & Oven

Refrain from turning on heat-generating appliances during the warmest hours of the day. Running your dryer, oven, and stove quickly heats up the house, forcing your AC to work overtime to maintain a cool temperature. Instead, grill outdoors and dry your laundry on a clothesline to avoid raising the temperature inside.    

 

You can bring down cooling costs with these tips — but, if they fail to make a dent on your utilities, it’s time to bring in a professional HVAC contractor. For outstanding air conditioner services, count on the experts at Combs Heating & Cooling in Chillicothe, OH. Serving all of southern Ohio, they have provided a full range of heating and cooling services to locals for over 10 years. Call (740) 772-2233 or inquire via their website.