Survivalists say you can go three weeks without food, three days without water and three minutes without oxygen. Arizonans say, when the heat index hits triple digits on a hot summer’s day, you can go about three hours without air conditioning before serious panic sets in. Let’s face it, Arizonans love their AC. As the Valley of the Sun sizzles in the months of June, July, August and September, utility bills soar with the rising temperatures. When it comes to paying for electricity, some normally cool customers can get a little hot under the collar.
How to Reduce Your Air Conditioning Bill
It’s a simple equation, the lower you set the temperature on your thermostat, the higher your electric bill will be at the end of the month. Air conditioning uses more electricity than any other appliance in your home. In Phoenix, during the summer months, AC can be responsible for up to 70 percent of your total utility bill. Unless you have unlimited resources, wise choices and a little common sense can help reduce your electric bill. Lowering your energy usage by 5 to 10 percent could mean extra money for other family adventures. Here are a few steps you can take to live in comfort and not see red at the end of the month:
- Say Hello to the High Seventies Indoors – Could you be cool with the thermostat set in the high seventies? You’ll save a lot of money if you can. Doctors say it takes about two weeks in the beginning of summer for our bodies to acclimatize. Why not try adjusting the thermostat setting upward one degree every two days until you reach 78. Wear light, breathable cotton, drink plenty of water, exercise early in the morning and take cold showers.
- Block Out Curtains, Blinds and UV Shades – When you leave the curtains and shades open, the UV rays from the sun heat up your house in a hurry. The idea is to prevent heat gain in your home by blocking out the sun as efficiently as possible. Highly reflective blinds and shades installed as close as possible to the windows will help reduce the inside temperature significantly.
- Install Ceiling Fans in Every Room – As summer approaches and you slowly increase the indoor temperature up to 78 degrees, it’s nice to know that ceiling fans can make you feel 6-7 degrees cooler due to the breeze and wind chill effect on your skin. Remember to turn fans off when you’re not using a room. Ceiling fans don’t actually lower the temperature in your home, just your perception of heat. Ceiling fans in bedrooms are a must.
- Install a Programmable Thermostat – Consider installing a new programmable thermostat which will increase your ability to control your environment and allow you to adjust the temperature much more easily. You can even change the settings through an app on your phone. Smart products, such as Nest, learn your habits and schedule and provide you with helpful data about cooling your home, so you are better able to track what’s working for you.
Schedule an AC Home Inspection in May
One of the best ways to save money on AC is to schedule a pre-summer system inspection to make sure your air conditioner is ready for the blistering summer ahead. We take the time to get to know your HVAC system and fix small problems before they become big breakdowns. Don’t put off your spring service. Call us today.
