Your air conditioner does not have to be the budget-breaker in the summer. As air conditioning and heating service specialists in the South, we at Duggan's One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® know what makes an air conditioner wasteful and expensive to operate. In our experience, we have seen many small things that homeowners can do to drastically change their summer cooling costs. Whether you choose to do one or all of these, take these tips to heart before the heat of summer rolls in to see the biggest in air conditioning bill savings. Automate Your System Many times people will forget to change their air conditioner's temperature settings before leaving the house to go to work or school. When they return, the house is cold, but there was no one home to enjoy the cool air. Purchase and use a programmable thermostat for your air conditioner. These let you create program settings based on the time of day and day of the week. Any time people will be out of the house for an extended period of time, have the thermostat set at a higher temperature. The thermostat automatically changes at the set time, even if you are not home. These devices can help you see big savings on your air conditioning bill. Be a Big Fan Using fans creates a wind chill effect on the body, and they will only work if someone is in the path of the air from the fan. Turn ceiling fans or table fans on and the air conditioner temperature higher to save on your air conditioning bills. Ceiling fans should spin counter-clockwise for the maximum cooling effect. A Healthy AC is an Efficient AC While it might seem self-serving for us, if your air conditioner is not working properly, it will run needlessly, costing you extra money on your monthly bills. Call our air conditioning repair offices to have your system checked and tuned before summer begins. Filters Aren't Just for Coffee The filter in your air conditioner traps dirt and other large particles before they can be blown through your home's air ducts. If the filter gets clogged, the AC must use more force to move air. It's like wearing a mask over your face. You have to work harder to get a breath of air in and out. Simply changing your filter once a month can keep the air in your home clean and your air conditioning costs down. Tight Seals Let us come out and check your air conditioning system and duct work for tight seals. Air that leaks out of the system does not reach into your home's room to keep you cool. At Duggan's One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning®, our Augusta air conditioning repair service technicians can examine your whole system to ensure that it does not leak and runs as efficiently as possible. For air conditioning service in Augusta, call Duggan's One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® at (706) 914-1617.