Why Was My Energy Bill So High This Summer?
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Air conditioners are a necessity in Florida. They’re essential for our comfort, health, and for the preservation of books, artwork, furniture, and wood frames in home structures. So, Florida residents are used to the bills that come along with the comforts of an AC.
However, it’s not pleasant when the power bill increases during the summer months. If you’re used to running the AC around the clock, year-round, it may be frustrating to see that despite the fact that there have been no changes in usage, you’re paying more for the electricity. What gives?
4 Reasons Your Power Bill is Higher During Summer
1. It’s hotter outside. An air conditioner will run a cycle until the climate reaches the temperature set on the thermostat. If it’s hotter outside, the inside of your home will be hotter too. In turn, it will take longer to cool it. Longer cycles mean a higher bill.
2. Higher demand. Heat and humidity mean more people are cranking up their air conditioners and keeping them on 24/7. This causes the market price to increase, and suppliers pass those costs on to the consumer.
3. Pool pumps. Summertime means cooling off in swimming pools, which means you run your pump more often. Run it enough times, and it’ll reflect on your power bill.
4. Lack of maintenance. If you don’t perform routine maintenance checks on your air conditioner, you’re going to miss things like clogged condensate lines, frozen coils, refrigerant leaks… All these things cause your AC to work on overdrive in attempts to cool your home. And since most people have the air conditioner running 24/7 during the summer, this translates to higher energy bills.
6 Ways to Lower Your Energy Bill Next Summer
1. Close blinds and shades. Direct sunlight increases the temperature inside your home. By closing the blinds, you make it easier for your AC to cool your home, faster.
2. Change air filters regularly. The best way to ensure lower energy bills is to make sure that your air conditioner is running as efficiently as possible. And the best way to keep air flowing properly, is to keep your air filters clean. Change them once a month during the summer.
3. Install ceiling fans. While, for most of us, Florida summers are too hot to rely on fans alone, having a ceiling fan in your home will allow you to raise the temperature on your thermostat by 4 degrees without having any effect on your family’s comfort.
4. Install a programmable thermostat. Installing a programmable thermostat allows you to set different temperatures when your home is empty and when your family is home. Adjusting the temperature between 7 to 10 degrees on a daily basis could result in savings of up to 10% off your regular electricity bill.
5. Conduct an energy audit. Humidity can cause wood frames to expand and contract, resulting in air leaks around windows and doors. When you turn on your air conditioner, the cool air can seep through cracks. As a result, it takes longer to cool your home and you end up with a higher energy bill. A professional energy audit will inspect your home for leaks and evaluate your home’s insulation. While an audit cost several hundred dollars, it could save you between 30% and 50% on your home energy bills.
6. Schedule a routine maintenance check. Having an HVAC professional inspect your air conditioning system means you’ll be notified of potential issues and nip the problem in the bud.
Call our HVAC professionals at A Plus Air Conditioning and let us help you!
No matter the issue with your air conditioner, we can assist you. We provide services all throughout north central Florida. And because we understand that a working air conditioner is essential in Florida, we offer 24/7 AC emergency service.
Call us at (352) 374-4988 and let us get your AC into the most efficient working order.