Noticed a spike in your electric bill this summer? You’re not alone! There are many things that can factor into a higher electric bill. One of the main culprits is your air conditioner. There are several things that will cause it to not run efficiently. Resulting in a higher electric bill for you. Below we’ll take a look at some of these circumstances. Helping your air conditioner run more efficiently and lowering your high electric bill.
Dirty Air Filters
This may be one of the easiest things for you to check. That’s why we suggest you make it the first point of action. This is the first line of defense in keeping your air conditioner running efficiently. The air filter prevents things like pollen, dust, animal hair from entering your air ducts. Furthermore, when they’re not cleaned or replaced regularly dust and other items will start building up. This restricts the air from being able to flow through optimally like it’s designed to. Depending on how many people are living in the home, how many pets you have, or how often your windows are left open. We recommend that the filters should be changed anywhere between 1-2 months.
Low Coolant in Your Air Conditioner
The coolant level in your air conditioner should never be low. When your air conditioner is running with a low coolant level is hard to remove heat. This means that your unit will be working twice as hard to cool your house down. As a result in the unit pulls twice as much electricity as it normally would (aka…higher electric bill). An HVAC company will be able to determine if levels are normal or if they are low. However, if you’re in the middle of summer getting an appointment could take weeks. If you’re handy, sites online offer DIY instructions for adding the coolant to your central ac unit.
AC Duct Leaks
Another cause for your air conditioner creating a high electric bill is from air duct leaks. The job of your ac ducts is to carry that nice cold air throughout your house. Air will not be distributed correctly with a leak in your ducting. Consequently, causing your thermostat to kick your ac unit into overdrive to hit your desired temperature. Causing you to pay for cold air that is never felt and escaping. Which, once again, causes your air conditioner to work twice as hard, resulting in a high electric bill.
Failing Parts and Old Systems
When parts in your air conditioner start to break your unit will run longer. Your ac is trying to hit the target temperature you have your thermostat set at. When your ac unit is not operating properly it has to work longer. Making it take longer for that target temperature to be reached. Failing parts are seen more frequently in an older air conditioner.
Air Conditioner Prevention is key!
This brings us to our last discussion point bi-annual air conditioner maintenance. Having your ac unit checked every 2 years will catch many of these problems before they begin. A maintenance technician will clean (wash & remove leaves) the inside of the air conditioner. A tech will also add any required coolant and check for parts that may need to be replaced.
In addition to these air conditioner tips, UtilityHound can also make sure you have the best electric rate. As a leader in relocation technology and a trusted utility concierge, we make high electric bills a thing in the past!