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Summer is already here! With that, comes more time spent outdoors enjoying the warm weather, but summer also comes with increased energy expenditure, too. On average, in the U.S., electricity use increases by about 22% during the summer months. One of the largest reasons is air conditioning. In this blog, we’ll explain how you can keep your energy bill low by preparing your AC to be in top condition this summer.

Understand When Your AC Could Use Work

As HVAC professionals, we often encounter AC units that are in far worse condition than our customers realize. Many homeowners don’t recognize when there is a major problem until it’s too late and they need the whole unit replaced. That’s why we recommend learning the signs that your AC needs repairs, so you can catch the problem early.

Increasing Electric Bill

Your energy bills are an important piece of information about the health of your HVAC systems. We recommend that you keep your bills together, so that you know when there is a sudden spike or change in costs. While you can expect to spend a bit more in the summer, make sure it’s an explainable jump.

A large spike in your energy bill could indicate an air leak or a cycling issue. Either way, you’ll want our HVAC professionals to fix the problem, so you don’t waste money.

Cycling Issues

Speaking of cycling problems, let’s talk more about those. Your AC unit functions at its peak when it can work for about 20 minutes at a time. Every time you turn on your AC, there is a large spike in electricity use that slows down as it continues to cool. Imagine if you had to turn your car off and on every block you drove. It wouldn’t be as efficient as cruising on the highway.

If you notice that your AC seems to have issues turning on, or if it turns off quicker than it should, give us a call. Your air conditioner might be too big for your home or there might be an internal issue that needs repairing.

Strange Smells

Many homeowners don’t realize that their AC should never produce a bad smell. If the air in your home smells when it comes out of your vents, there is a definite problem! There could be a dead animal in your vents, or an electrical issue with the unit itself. Don’t just cover it up with an air freshener! Instead,give our team a call if you notice a smell emanating from your vents.

Loud Noises

Now, don’t get us wrong, air conditioners aren’t silent by any means. However, they shouldn’t make loud banging or hissing noises. The occasional loud noise might just be the air ducts expanding and contracting, but if it repeats a few times, it’s probably something else that we should take a look at.

Get Efficient and Save Money This Summer

Once you understand when your AC unit needs repairs, you can start to worry about getting more out of it and saving money as a result. One of our favorite recommendations to save money on your AC costs is to invest in a smart thermostat. They only cost about $100 depending on the brand you go with, but they can easily save that much in about 9 months. After that, you’ll continue to collect on your investment from the added efficiency.

Not only is a smart thermostat a great financial investment, but it’s also more convenient. If you haven’t gotten one, you really should! It’ll take care of setting your AC on an efficient schedule and you can always adjust your thermostat while you’re away from home if need be.