10 Pro Tips to Optimize Your AC System This Spring and Summer

Here are 10 effective strategies to help curb HVAC costs during these seasons, ensuring your system runs efficiently while keeping your home comfortable:

1. Schedule Regular Maintenance: Regular maintenance ensures your HVAC system operates at peak efficiency. Have a professional service your system before the hot weather sets in. This can include cleaning the coils, checking the refrigerant levels, and ensuring all components are in good working order.
2. Upgrade Your Thermostat: If you haven’t already, consider upgrading to a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats adjust the temperature automatically based on your schedule and preferences, which can significantly reduce energy usage by cooling your home only when needed.
3. Change Air Filters Regularly: Dirty air filters restrict airflow and make your HVAC system work harder, which increases energy consumption. Check your filters monthly and replace them as needed, typically every 90 days or more often if you have pets or have allergies.
4. Seal Ducts and Insulate: Ensure your ductwork is properly sealed and insulated, especially if it travels through unconditioned spaces like the attic or crawl spaces. Leaky ducts can lose up to 20-30% of air before it reaches your living spaces, causing your system to work harder and increase costs.
5. Use Ceiling Fans: Utilize ceiling fans to help distribute cool air more effectively throughout your home. Ceiling fans can allow you to raise the thermostat setting by about 4°F with no reduction in comfort, reducing the load on your air conditioner.
6. Install Window Treatments: Invest in blackout curtains, shades, or blinds. Keeping them closed during the hottest part of the day can keep the sun’s rays out, reducing the heat gain inside your home and easing the burden on your air conditioning unit.
7. Consider Zoning Systems: If your home has multiple levels or large unoccupied areas, consider installing a zoning system. This allows you to cool only the areas in use, saving significant energy and reducing wear on your HVAC system.
8. Avoid Heat Build-up During the Day: Avoid activities that generate a lot of heat, such as running the dishwasher, oven, or dryer during the hottest part of the day. Instead, perform these activities in the evening when it’s cooler.
9. Improve Home Insulation: Enhancing the insulation in your home’s walls, attic, and floors can help maintain a more consistent indoor temperature, reducing the need for constant air conditioning.
10. Landscaping for Shade: Plant trees or shrubs to shade your air conditioning unit, but ensure they don’t block the airflow. Proper shading can increase the efficiency of your unit by up to 10%.

Implementing these tips can lead to significant savings on your energy bills during the warmer months. They will also help keep your home cooler without overworking your HVAC system and extend the life of your equipment.