The summer weather is scorching, but thank goodness you have air conditioning. You can be comfortable in your home away from the heat and humidity. That comfort comes with a price, however, as you’ll see your electricity bill skyrocket during the summer months. It doesn’t have to be that bad if you make a concerted effort to save energy. Here are some tips that work to cut your air conditioning bill in the summer.

Get an HVAC Inspection

One of the best ways to lower your bill is to have an air conditioning unit that is working properly. At the beginning of the summer, have an HVAC worker check out your air conditioning. The inspection will cost under $100, and it’s worth it in order to fine-tune things. If you’re unit isn’t running at top efficiency, you could be needlessly paying for more electricity to cool your home.

Clean Your Unit

You can also improve the efficiency of your air conditioning by cleaning it yourself. Replace the filter, and clean any dirt or debris out of the condenser coil that’s attached to the outside unit. Keeping the coil unclogged and clean will improve your air conditioner’s efficiency.

Draw the Shades

While it’s nice to let the sun in through the windows, it’s also how a significant portion of the heat in your home enters in the first place. Close the curtains during the day, especially on southern and western windows. Your drapes will prevent a lot of heat from coming in and will instantly reduce the amount of work your air conditioning has to do.

Program Your Thermostat

Use a programmable, electronic thermostat to regulate the temperature in your home. Set it for the highest temperature you can live with, and this will help keep the temperate from changing so much. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, check with your electric company. Many times they are willing to replace your thermostat for free since it helps lower the amount of electricity they need to supply you with.

Use Ceiling Fans

Make sure your ceiling fans are on. They’ll do wonders to circulate air through the house. Have them running in a counter-clockwise direction for maximum efficiency in cooling your home.

Raise the Temperature When You’re Not Home

If no one is in the house, there is no need for the air conditioning to even be running. If you don’t want to turn it off completely, raise the temperature while you’re out. Keeping the air running when you’re not at home is a huge waste of energy. Making a point to adjust the temp even when you’re just going out for a short time will help lower your bill.

Keep the Door and Windows Closed

If your air conditioning is running, keep your windows closed. When they’re open, they’re only letting more hot air in the house and making your unit work harder to keep your house cool. Be careful not to leave the door open, too, even for just a minute. It lets the cool air out and the hot air in.  

Adam Matthews is a freelance writer and dedicated father who loves to give advice and write for blogs. To ensure all his articles are free of grammatical errors and are of a high quality he proofs them with a grammar checker.

Photo Credit: krishram27