Why Your Cooling Bill Is So High
May 15, 2014
While we’re really nowhere near peak cooling season yet, more than likely the time will come sometime during the summer where you look at your cooling bill and do a double take because it is so high. If this happens to you, the normal reaction will be to ask, “Why?” Here are some of the most common reasons why your AC may be taking a larger-than-normal chunk out of your bank account.
Lack of Maintenance
One of the biggest reasons why cooling bill gets too high is because an air conditioning system has to work too hard to make you comfortable. The biggest reason why that happens is a lack of proper maintenance. When you run your AC year after year without having it checked, it loses efficiency – just like your car would not run properly if you waited 30,000 miles before you got the oil changed. Regular maintenance will identify small issues before they become major issues. One of the most important maintenance tasks is one you can perform yourself. Change your air filter monthly during peak cooling season and you’ll see major improvement in the operation of your AC. The cleaner your indoor air, the easier it will be for your system to keep you cool.
Not Running Ceiling Fans
If you have ceiling fans and you don’t use them, you’re not just doing yourself a disservice, you’re doing the same to your air conditioning system. Use ceiling fans in conjunction with your AC to save wear and tear – you have to give your cooling system a rest some time. This is especially true at night; if you have a ceiling fan in your bedroom, try using it instead of your air conditioner.
Keeping the Thermostat Too Low When You’re Gone
Far too many people fail to raise the temperature of their thermostat while they’re gone. If you’re out of the house for 8-10 hours per day it doesn’t make any sense to run your AC like normal. Your furniture and walls may appreciate it, but you’re really not doing much more than wasting a lot of money.
If you would like more information regarding why your cooling bill is so high, contact us online at Northern's One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® or call us at (763) 284-8639. Also, you can always count on us for any sort of heating or cooling service or repair.