Climate control can be critical during the hot summer months, but it is also a major drain on a home. That leads many to wonder, how can they keep cool without having to pay much for electricity?
The great news is that your AC can be made extremely efficient through certain changes, which will allow you to remain cool at minimal cost. You will find out the best way to save money on AC despite all weather conditions.
What Is the Best Degree for AC to Save Money?
Some of them recommend adjusting the ac to 78 degrees Fahrenheit or about 25.5 degrees Celsius during the summer.
This temperature is often referred to as the “Goldilocks zone” because it strikes a balance: it’s warm enough to be comfortable but not so hot that it is going to cost a lot in electricity.
This means that when you set your AC, the temperature will provide a favorable indoor climate without exerting undue pressure on your system.
It is simple change on the property that could make a big difference if done together with other energy cost reduction measures.
7 Best Ways to Save Money on AC
Aside from managing the degree, there are other hacks that are the best ways to save money on AC.
1. Use Ceiling Fans Alongside Your AC
Just like a ceiling fan helps enhance the impact of an AC, you can increase the difference in degrees you were using your AC normally.
Fans also just blow around the cool air throughout the room, making the room feel cooler than before. Moreover, fans absorb a lot less electricity than air conditioners, hence reduce your total electricity costs generally.
2. Close Curtains and Blinds During the Day
Light from your windows seriously warms up your house and makes your AC pump harder to achieve the desired temperatures inside the house.
Drawing curtains at the same time as blinds or shutters can also be effective in preventing the suns heat from inflating inside temperatures.
Thermal ones can be particularly helpful when it comes to nighttime walking, or light-blocking curtains can help with that.
3. Close Doors and Windows
Holes in doors and windows allow cool air to be released out and warm air to be drawn in thus working against the ACs performance.
Weatherstripping, caulks, or insulating these leaks will help the home stay cool and can minimize the pressure on your AC unit.
Checking for drafts is easy: one just has to bring a candle close the doors and windows and the flame part will tell you whether there was an interference.
4. Clean and Replace AC Filters Regularly
Dirtiest filters compel your AC to draw more current than required in order to filter the air, thus burning more energy and expending more cash.
Forcing fresh air through the unit, you have to ensure that the filters are changed or washed at least monthly (depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations).
This also prevents the need for frequent repairs on your AC and thus extends the life span of the AC to-save money in the long-run.
5. Invest in a Programmable Thermostat
A programmable thermostat refers to a device that enables you to program a particular change in temperatures during any particular time of the day.
For instance, you must be able to set the thermostat to rise with time when you are at work and reduce when you are coming back home.
This one of the adjustments can help to bring down the power consumption during the periods when it is not necessary and minimize your bill.
6. Limit Heat-Producing Activities
Turning on your ovens and stoves and using devices like clothes dryer makes your stationed AC work harder to produce cold air to balance with the heat produced.
It’s also wise to attempt to use these appliances during the cooler portions of the day, and find meals where you do not have to cook as much. One simple method is to replace normal bulbs with LED bulbs which release less heat inside homes.
7. Schedule Regular AC Maintenance
It’s imperative to get into the habit of doing maintenance checks since they’ll help your AC to work optimally.
Make sure that you hire an experienced contractor to look at your system and also provide maintenance services at least once each year.
These minor problems that may be discovered through maintenance may be prevented from escalating into bigger problems that end up costing you a lot of money in the long run and your unit may indeed last longer.
Is 72 a Good Temperature for Air Conditioning?
The various temperature settings for air conditioning are therefore to a large extent the human preference.
Most people like it when the temperature is at 72 degrees, which is considered to be a typical temperature inside.
But if you want to reduce your expenses on cooling, it is possible to set a somewhat higher temperature for the room, for instance, at 75 F or even 78 F.
Engaging in an experiment through the use of the thermometer to appreciate the best bet for one is also another common tip in the reduction of energy bills.
How Much Does 1 Degree Really Save You on Your AC?
Every 8 hours, you can expect to save between 1-3% of energy bills by simply raising the thermostat by a single degree.
As for the actual dollar savings, there are so many things that can influence the bill such as climate, level of insulation, and electricity of your HVAC, but in the long-run, those little measures can save you a lot of money to an extent.
For example, by raising the temperatures a few degrees during the day when you are at work, you gain tremendous savings over the course of a week, or month, or season.
Conclusion
Air conditioning cost cutting does not necessarily mean that you will have to compromise on comfort.
Contrary to what some people may think, it is possible to attain comfort during the extreme hot seasons without high bills by setting a suitable temperature for your home and room to a comfortable level, using the ceiling fidgets where necessary.
This is ensuring that your central air unit is serviced or turning off other appliances that make the room hot among other strategies.
The message is intended to support the understanding that people don’t have to make drastic changes to remain comfortable and save money on energy this summer.