8 Ways To Save Money On Your AC Bill This Year (2024)

Obviously, raising the temperature a bit is a surefire way to save some on an AC bill. Estimates vary, but some experts believe that raising AC’s temperature two to three degrees can save the homeowner as much as two to three percent on their energy bill.

The reason raising the temperature saves money is simple: when the thermostat’s setting is higher, the unit itself doesn’t have to work as hard to keep the air inside the home close to that setting, resulting in less energy usage.

The summer sun is not your AC’s friend. For that reason, it’s important to draw the curtains during the hottest hours of the day.

From late morning to mid-afternoon, the sun will beat on south-facing windows, causing the home to heat up through a process called Solar Heat Gain. The solar heat gain will warm objects within the room, which will then radiate heat into the space. These higher temperatures force the AC to work harder to keep it cool, driving up the energy bill. Drawing the curtains will help.

Drafty windows and doors don’t just affect a home in the winter. If the AC is running full blast but there are gaps where treated air can escape, cold air will escape and warm air will sneak in, and subsequently, the temperature in the home will begin to rise.

In this case, the air conditioner will have to run more often to maintain the thermostat’s setting. So, caulk gaps around windows and use weather stripping around doors. Trapping that cool air inside while keeping the cold air out can make a big difference in the energy bill.

Once the sun sets and the air begins to cool, it may be worth shutting the AC off for the evening and opening the windows. As the cool air enters the home overnight, it will displace the warmer air by pushing it upward. So, open the windows on the first and second floor and allow the air to flow through the entire home to keep it cool. Just be sure to shut them as the temperature rises.

Some folks install whole-house or attic fans for this reason. They install the fans in an attic or similar space and set it to suck the air out of the house, projecting it up and out of the home. This draws cool fresh air in, effectively cooling the space at night.

One of the greatest improvements in modern home technology is a smart thermostat. These models have programmable settings that the homeowner can leverage throughout the day. For instance, if everyone works or heads to school during the day, there’s no reason the thermostat should be at 65 degrees. But, they can reset to a lower temperature when everyone heads home.

With a smart thermostat, users can change the temperature inside the house from their phones, or adjust the schedule to fit the family’s needs. Used correctly, this can yield big savings on your utility bill.

There are certain spaces within a home where a thermostat just doesn’t belong. For instance, if a thermostat is in front of a south-facing window and the sun pours through the glass directly onto it, it’s going to think the home is warmer than it actually is. This will cause the AC to run too often, making the rest of the home excessively cold and driving up the utility bill.

There are better places to install a thermostat. Try a central hallway within the home or in another living space away from those south-facing windows. Moving a thermostat can be a bit of a pain, but the results might very well be worth it.

During the months in which the home relies on air conditioning to stay comfortable, avoid cooking inside. Baking brownies in the oven can warm the entire home, and the humidity from a big pasta pot of boiling water can make things feel sticky. In these cases, the Thermostat will think it’s warmer than it is and the air conditioner will run more often than it is supposed to.

Luckily, summer is full of outdoor cooking opportunities to keep the home cool. Cooking on the grill, using an outdoor pizza oven and even kicking back with S’mores around a firepit can help keep the home a bit cooler.

There are a lot of reasons why a neglected air conditioning system could be driving the utility bill up. For instance, clogged coils will not allow the machine to work efficiently. Low refrigerant can cause the coil to freeze. Dirty filters can reduce airflow. The reasons continue.

Folks that really want to save money on their AC bill this summer should have their air conditioner serviced by an expert. The air conditioning pro will make sure the system is running as efficiently as possible, helping the homeowner save some cash off of each utility bill.