Common Home Cooling Mistakes that Could Be Driving Up Your Energy Costs

13 Sep Common Home Cooling Mistakes that Could Be Driving Up Your Energy Costs

If you dread opening your utility bills every summer because your home cooling costs go up so much, you can make some key changes in your home to lower your energy costs. Here is a look at the most common home cooling mistakes people make during Arizona summers that could be causing them to pay more for their AC than they should.

Setting the Thermostat Too Low

At the height of summer in Arizona, your home’s air conditioner must work very hard to keep your home at a consistent, comfortable temperature. Most residential AC units will never be able to get your home’s interior cold in the middle of summer when outside temperatures are consistently 100-110 degrees. Setting your thermostat to 68-70 degrees will make your air conditioner run 24/7 trying to get your home’s temperature that low. You should keep your thermostat set to 77-78 degrees to keep your home at a comfortable temperature without overworking your air conditioner or having to pay hundreds of dollars every month in cooling costs.

Not Using a Programmable or Smart Thermostat

Using a programmable or smart thermostat will give you much more control over your AC settings and your energy costs. Do not turn off the AC when you are away from home or sleeping. The unit will then have to work extra hard to bring your home to a comfortable temperature when you turn it on again. A programmable thermostat allows you to create schedules for when you are home and away, and it can adjust your AC by one or two degrees when you are at work. This can reduce your cooling costs by 2% or more.

Avoiding AC Maintenance

Staying on top of routine AC maintenance will maintain the efficiency and performance of your AC. When you avoid maintenance, your unit will work harder to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, and your energy bills will increase. You are also more likely to have poor indoor air quality and an increase in asthma or allergy symptoms. You should change your AC filters as recommended by the manufacturer, and schedule seasonal tune-ups with your HVAC company to make sure your unit is functioning as efficiently as possible.

Not Using a Fan

An overhead, tower, or pedestal fan will help cool air from your AC circulate to areas of your home that are harder for your vents to reach. This may help you stay comfortable without being tempted to turn the AC down to an unreasonable temperature.

If you’re not sure when you last scheduled HVAC maintenance in Tucson, AZ, contact us at Temco Air Environmental. We’ll make sure your home air conditioner is working properly and repair or replace parts as needed. We can also offer you more tips on improving the performance and energy efficiency of your AC and lowering your energy bills. Call us now at (520) 622-2909 or contact us online to get started.