13 Air Conditioning Efficiency Tips for Waukegan Homeowners

You might not think twice about cranking up the air conditioning when it’s warm outside—until you see your energy bill. Air conditioning accounts for about 12% of the average U.S. home’s annual energy expenses and up to 70% of your utility expenses during the summer. If you’re tired of spending too much for air conditioning, practice these 13 tips to improve AC efficiency and save money on your monthly bills.

1. Prioritize routine service: Dirt and debris collect in your air conditioner over time, decreasing efficiency. Schedule annual maintenance to have a technician clean your unit’s coils, switch out the filter, tighten electrical connections, lubricate moving elements and more. An annual inspection also allows your technician to discover and fix any potential issues before they become major problems.
2. Keep the outdoor unit free of blockages: Loose dirt and nearby vegetation growing around your air conditioner can restrict airflow and make the system work harder. Check the unit throughout the summer, pruning back vegetation and removing debris as needed to keep your cooling system working effectively.
3. Buy a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat enables you to set automatic temperatures based on your schedule. In the warm months, program a higher temperature when you’re away from your residence and have it resume a comfortable temperature before you return. This reduces electrical consumption and saves money without decreasing comfort.
4. Avoid overriding programmed settings: While you are able to manually change the temperature on your programmable thermostat, try turning on a fan or taking off a layer of clothes before you change the setting. When you need to modify the temperature, do so by just a degree or two. Cranking down the temperature won’t cool your home any faster and only serves to waste electricity.
5. Use the auto fan setting: While fan-only mode circulates air to stop rooms from becoming stuffy, HVAC professionals recommend using this setting sparingly. “Auto fan” is the more efficient setting because the blower only runs when the rest of the AC does, preventing needless electricity waste.
6. Stop solar heat gain: Closing blinds and curtains, getting outdoor awnings and applying window film helps block the sun’s heat to keep your residence cooler. These techniques are most useful on south- and west-facing windows where the sun shines directly inside the house.
7. Install the outdoor part of your system in the shade: Direct sunlight can force your system to work harder and lowers efficiency. So, if possible, position the condensing unit so it’s shaded in the afternoon.
8. Keep your air vents open: It’s a often-held misconception that closing the vents in unused rooms conserves energy. Unfortunately, this throws off the supply and return air balance, making your AC less efficient. As a rule, keep at least 80% of your registers open continuously and ensure that no vents are hindered by rugs, curtains or furniture.
9. Use ceiling fans in tandem with your air conditioner: Ceiling fans circulate air throughout the room, creating a wind chill effect that makes you feel about 4 degrees cooler. This could allow you to turn up the temperature a few degrees without feeling unpleasant, reducing your dependence on the air conditioner and lowering your bills.
10. Use a dehumidifier: High humidity fosters a “cool but clammy” feeling, which is an uncomfortable sensation that may influence you to repeatedly lower the temperature. Actually, you need less humidity, not cooler air. Running a whole-house dehumidifier removes unwanted moisture, making your home feel more comfortable for a fraction of the cost of air conditioning.
11. Use natural ventilation carefully: When it’s hot and humid outside, keep your windows and doors closed to restrict cool air from escaping. If you are living in a place with cool summer evenings, open the windows and doors overnight to cool off the house naturally, reducing the load on your air conditioner.
12. Seal air leaks: Leaky windows and doors allow hot summer air inside of the house even when closed, making it harder and more expensive to keep things cool. Seal leaks with caulk and weatherstripping to keep conditioned air in the house where it is supposed to be.
13. Seal duct leaks: A standard home loses 20% or more of the conditioned air moving through it to leaks, holes and badly connected ducts. Call a professional to seal your ductwork and put an end to this energy waste.

If you still have comfort issues or big energy costs after implementing these tips, turn to Robinson Service Experts for help. We [can|are able to|will]130] diagnose and repair air conditioning problems, provide preventive maintenance, or replace your outdated, poorly performing system with a brand-new, high-efficiency model. For your confidence, we support all the work that we do with a one-year 100% satisfaction guarantee! Contact a Service Experts office near you today to learn more or request air conditioning services in Waukegan.