Tips on How to Minimize Your AC Use

Running an air conditioner during the sweltering days of summer is necessary to keep you and your family comfortable at home, especially now that most of us don't go out due to the pandemic. But doing so also means a steady increase in your cooling costs.

Four Seasons Air Specialists is your tried and tested HVAC company in Vadnais Heights MN. We help homeowners like you keep their air conditioners in great shape, ensuring energy efficiency while maintaining absolute comfort.

Here are some tips you can consider to keep your cooling costs down this summer.

If possible, turn your AC off while you sleep at night.

Nights are naturally cooler, giving you the option to turn off the air conditioning and open windows to let the cool breeze and cool your home. If the nighttime air coming from the outside cools your home to lower than your usual thermostat settings, turning off the AC should save you some money.

However, if the outdoor air is too humid and the moisture comes inside, it will cause your AC to have a harder time eliminating the excess moisture from the outdoor air.

If you can't turn the AC off at night, turn up the temperature instead.

Since nighttimes are usually cooler, you don't need the same cooling level as you would during the day. So, set your AC to a higher temperature during your hours of sleep, or if your unit is equipped with a "sleep mode," use that function to minimize the AC output and save energy.

Setting the temperature around 78 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit will immediately help lower your energy costs. You can also save an additional 6 to 8 percent of cooling costs for every degree above 78. This tip enables you to stay still comfortable while saving money. If you're going to be away, try setting the temperature even higher of go ahead and turn it off altogether.

Manage your home's sun exposure.

At daytime, getting as much shade helps your home stay cooler, helping you minimize your AC usage. To do this, keep blinds, curtains, and drapes closed. These items should keep the sunshine outside and give your home the shade it needs. If your windows are directly facing the sun, use light-colored backings for blinds to deflect the heat. Keep the windows, blinds, and curtains closed to keep the hot air out and help your AC work as seamlessly as possible.

Control your heat-generating devices.

To effectively minimize your AC use, you need to be on top of the appliances that release heat. Lightbulbs generate heat that adds to the air conditioner's workload. Turning them off when not in use can help decrease your home's heat, granting you to set the thermostat at a higher temperature. 

Avoid washing clothes or cooking during the hottest parts of the day. Doing so will add to the home's ambient heat, causing your AC to work with added pressure.

Also, electrical devices such as TV, computers, lamps, routers, etc. produce heat. So, refrain from positioning them near the air conditioner because the thermostat, as a heat-sensitive device, will require the AC to run longer unnecessarily.

Surround your house with trees.

Most of the heat in your house comes from direct sunlight shining on the roof or through windows. If you plant leafy trees around the outside of your home, you can naturally block the sun and lower your indoor temperature. Trees can help increase your air conditioner's energy efficiency as much as 10 percent, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates.

Consider professional AC maintenance.

The above tips are practical ways to lower your AC use. Still, the most effective way to increase your AC's energy efficiency is to have it maintained based on the manufacturer's standards. This is where Four Seasons Air Specialists can help. Being in the HVAC industry for over 40 years, we have gained the necessary knowledge and experience to maintain air conditioners properly. Our teams of AC experts are also duly trained and certified to keep cooling systems in tip-top shape. 

There are maintenance steps that require professional tools and expertise, and our guys are more than capable of delivering. Call us and schedule a visit from one of our teams of experts. We are your reliable Woodbury AC maintenance company.