![\"air-conditioner-money-saver\"](\"https:\/\/www.saddlebackplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/air-conditioner-money-saver-300x230.jpg\")
Southern California summers are wonderful\u2014and sometimes not so wonderful when the serious July, August, and September heat waves hit. Air conditioning systems run often during the middle of the year, and the drain they place on electricity means higher utility bills throughout the season.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no way you can completely avoid a rise in electrical costs during summer\u2014unless you never turn on the air conditioner at all, and you don\u2019t want that. But there are ways to improve air conditioning system efficiency and cut down on unnecessary use. Those summer electric costs don\u2019t have to be that<\/em> high! We have advice on keeping summer AC costs within reason.<\/p>\n Regular air conditioning maintenance before the summer heat arrives is the essential step in keeping bills under control. A professional cleaning, inspection, and adjustment removes strain from the unit to help it keep its efficiency rating. Each year an AC misses maintenance, it will become costlier to run. Maintenance helps prevent numerous other problems, so please have this schedule ASAP if you haven\u2019t yet. Our MVP Program<\/a> makes maintenance a snap.<\/p>\n Turning the thermostat up and down throughout the day is a sure way to waste power. Instead of dialing it down to 60\u00b0F when you feel hot and then shutting it off when you feel too cold, let the thermostat sit steady at around 78\u00b0F during the day when people are home. Raise it about 8\u00b0F at night or when the house is empty. (A programmable thermostat makes this easier.) It costs less to run the air conditioner at a steady warmer temperature than to keep pushing it down too low.<\/p>\n Your HVAC system has an air filter to protect the interior of the cabinet from the dust and dirt the blower fan draws in through the return air ducts. The filter doesn\u2019t clean itself off, so after one to three months, it will become clogged. A clogged filter forces the blower fan to work harder for poorer results, and you\u2019ll see the consequences on your utility bills. Change the filter regularly through the summer (every one to three months) and you\u2019ll avoid a spike in costs.<\/p>\n On days when it isn\u2019t too sweltering hot, give the AC a break for a stretch and instead set the HVAC system to \u201cfan only\u201d mode. The fan will still draw on electrical power, but much less power than what it takes to run the AC\u2019s compressor. Open the windows in your house, and the circulation of air from the central fan and fresh air from outside will help you keep cool for less.<\/p>\nAlways (always!) have the system professionally inspected and maintained<\/h3>\n
Know the best thermostat settings<\/h3>\n
Never forget to change the air filter<\/h3>\n
\u201cFan only\u201d mode is your friend<\/h3>\n
Consult with the pros<\/h3>\n