How to Reduce Your AC Bills

Well, it's about that time of year. Winter is coming to an end and the hot summer months are barrelling towards us. And with summer approaching, that means it's time to start switching our air conditioners into cooling mode again.

But extensive use of air conditioning comes with a price, literally.

The cost of air conditioning can put a massive strain on your household budget, forcing you to choose between physical comfort and monetary comfort. However, with a few simple changes to the way you use your AC system, you can stay comfy without breaking the bank.

Optimise Your Thermostat Settings

That’s right, by simply setting your air conditioner to a more optimal temperature, you can save money on energy costs. While it’s tempting to set your thermostat low during scorching summers, studies have found that most people’s most comfortable temperature range is between 21°C and 25°C. Moving your thermostat just 1°C out of this range can alter your energy consumption by as much as 10%.

A handy tip to remember is that if you are constantly turning off your air conditioner due to it getting too cold, you are likely being inefficient with your air conditioning system. Additionally, make sure you set your thermostat to a higher temperature when you are not home or asleep. This can lighten the load on your system and save on energy costs.

It’s important to keep your home cool during the hot summers, without taxing your system. Avoid changing the temperature too often as this can also use extra energy and raise air conditioning costs. Perhaps you may even consider a programmable thermostat, that can change the temperature automatically based on time of day and external temperature.

Enhance Home Insulation

Setting your air con to optimal temperatures won’t mean much if all of the cold air is escaping your home. This is where insulation comes in.

Insulation reduces the amount of heat that passes through the walls, ceiling and floor of your home. This allows your home to retain the heat within it, as well as keep out external temperatures. In the summertime, all of the outside heat will be unable to penetrate the walls of your home, and all of the nice cool air will remain trapped within.

Ensuring your home is well-insulated is one of the most important ways you can improve the energy efficiency of your home, and therefore lower your electricity bills.

Regular Maintenance of Your Air Conditioning Unit

It’s one thing for you to run your Air Conditioner inefficiently, but it’s a whole other issue if your air-con unit is running inefficiently all on its own. Even the best air con units are prone to slowing down from time to time, which can cause costs to go up.

This is why it’s important to get a professional to service your system at least once every 12 months.

Professionals will undertake many different checks and tasks while working on your system. The areas inspected include:

• Air filters: Professionals will check the condition of air filters and clean or replace them as needed to maintain airflow and indoor air quality.
• Coils: The Condenser and Evaporator Coils will be inspected and cleaned to improve efficiency and prevent system overload.
• Electrical connections: All electrical connections will be checked for wear and tear, and any loose connections will be tightened to prevent electrical issues.
• Refrigerant levels: Refrigerant levels will be measured and, if necessary, replenished to ensure the system can cool effectively.
• Moving parts: Lubrication will be applied to moving parts such as motors and fans to reduce friction and wear.

Ensuring this kind of maintenance is performed on your system at least once per year will significantly extend the lifespan of your air conditioner, as well as help it operate more efficiently.

Upgrade to a More Energy-Efficient AC Unit

If maintenance doesn’t get your air conditioner back into top condition, it may be time to think about replacing it with a whole new system. And while you’re already replacing your system, why not choose a more energy-efficient one?

More modern air conditioning units are designed to use less energy while still providing the same heating and cooling capacity. For some systems, the performance may be even better than your old system while still using less energy.

While installing a whole new air conditioning system may seem expensive (and it can be), the long-term cost savings will be more than worth it. Some systems such as evaporative cooling systems may take up a lot of real estate when compared to something like a window air conditioner, but the improved efficiency and performance should make the choice easy for you to make.

Use Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are an excellent way to reduce your air conditioning bills. By circulating air throughout the room, they help you feel cooler even when the thermostat is set a few degrees higher.

Here’s how you can maximise their efficiency:

• Set the fan to rotate counterclockwise: In the summer, make sure your ceiling fan is rotating counterclockwise. This creates a wind-chill effect, making you feel cooler by pushing air downward.
• Raise the thermostat: With a ceiling fan running, you can comfortably raise your thermostat by 3-5°C. Each degree higher can save you about 3-5% on your cooling costs.
• Turn off the fan when you leave: Fans cool people, not rooms. Make it a habit to turn off ceiling fans when you exit a room to avoid wasting electricity.
• Use in conjunction with AC: Ceiling fans work best when used together with your air conditioner. They allow you to set the AC at a higher temperature, reducing its workload and saving energy.
• Choose energy-efficient fans: Opt for Energy Star-rated ceiling fans, which use about 60% less energy than standard models, further lowering your energy consumption.

By incorporating ceiling fans into your cooling strategy, you can stay comfortable while significantly reducing your air conditioning bills.

No Need to Break the Bank

Surviving the summer doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank. By optimising your home temperature, enhancing your insulation and maintaining your system, you can make your air conditioning cheaper and more energy efficient.

Alternatively, getting a professional to install a whole new air conditioning system or even just using ceiling fans, is a more demanding but just as rewarding way to go about saving air con costs this summer.

Please note: This information is provided for advice purposes only. Regulations differ from state to state, so please consult your local authorities or an industry professional before proceeding with any work. See our Terms & Conditions here.