12 Tightwad Tips to Slash Your AC Bills

Reduce Ac Bills

Summer weather usually means turning off the heater and saving money on utility bills by enjoying the great outdoors. However, summer heat waves mean using your air conditioning, which can get expensive. Here are twelve "tightwad tips" to reduce your ac bills this summer.
Need Help? Find an AC Contractor

Home Improvement Tips

Install Shade Cloth

Shade cloth is heavy duty fabric that provides shade to any outdoor area. Install it on patios, in front of doors, or anywhere that needs shade to provide a cool, outdoor area to enjoy—allowing you to turn off the air conditioner for times when you aren't in the house. It will also reduce your ac bills by increasing shaded areas on your house, keeping the inside cooler.

Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans help cool your house by circulating the air as well as providing a breeze to make your home feel cooler. Ceiling fans come in many styles to match the design of your house or update a room's look.

Stop drafts

Drafty doors and windows let cold air into your house during the winter, and allow cooled air to escape during the summer. Replacing door sweeps or installing energy-efficient double-paned windows will reduce drafts and keep your air conditioner from heating the outdoors, as well.

Plant Trees

Planting trees or bushes near your house will provide shade to cool your house. If you plant deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves in the winter), you have the added bonus of shade during the summer and a house exposed to the sun during the winter.

Trees should be planted on south-facing sides of your house, since the sun shines most intensely from that direction. If you live in the southern hemisphere, reverse this and plant your trees to the north.

Use Reflective Paint

To reduce the temperature in your house and cut your air conditioning use, try reflective paint. This paint contains tiny glass beads that reflect sunlight and keep it from heating your house. This paint has the added benefit of being heavy duty, so it doesn't need repainting, and it has low VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions, making it safer for the environment and your family.

Home Efficiency Tips

Turn Down AC

It may seem like an obvious solution, but turning down your air conditioning unit will reduce your energy bill. Remember that for every degree you increase your ac, you'll save one percent on your energy bill.

Open Windows at Night

One way to keep your home cool in the summer without using your air conditioner is to open all the windows at night to allow the cool air into the house. Then close the windows when you get up in the morning, trapping cool air in your home without ever turning on your ac unit.

Utilize Blinds and Drapes

Simply keeping your blinds or drapes closed to rooms with the most sun exposure will keep them cooler by up to 10 degrees. This tip is especially helpful when you open your windows at night and close them during the day.

Close Off Unused Rooms

You wouldn't leave the door to the basement or to an empty room open during the winter, so keep them closed during the summer, too. Keeping the blinds closed in an unused room and closing the door will help your air conditioner run more efficiently and save you money.

Cook When it is Cool

One way to add a lot of heat to your house is to turn on the oven or stove. The added heat certainly makes your air conditioner work harder as well. Reduce this energy use by cooking later at night, when it is cooler.

Eat Cooling Foods

In addition to warming your house during cooking, hot foods also make you feel warmer. During the summer eat foods that keep you cool, like salads, chilled soups, or fresh fruits and vegetables, with the added bonus of staying fit for swimsuit season.

Limit Appliance Use

Your oven isn't the only heat producing appliance. There are other culprits like lights, computer monitors, dryers, dishwashers, and electric chargers. Limit their use, or keep a close eye on how long these devices stay on. For instance, most cell phones and other appliances with electric chargers don't need to be plugged in for more than an hour.

Reduce Your Air Conditioning Bills: The Bottom Line

There are many ways to reduce the cost of running an air conditioning unit during the summer, and many of these steps don't require huge changes in your lifestyle or major updates to your cooling system. Of course, if these tips don't reduce your bill enough, consider calling an air conditioning contractor to update your system.

Disclaimer: This article offers general guidelines and is not intended as professional advice.