As the summer season approaches, you start to feel the heat once again. While it can be refreshing to have some sun after the cold months, some days can be particularly hot, causing you to blast your air conditioner on full power. As a homeowner, you can probably attest to the struggles of staying cool and fresh without blowing up your energy bills. With your AC on for almost the whole day every summer day, it can be hard to avoid.
Ultimately, the question boils down to how to lower electric bill in summer. The AC may seem like your only option to get some relief from those hot days, but there are also other less expensive ways to cool down. You can still enjoy the season by avoiding the discomfort from the scorching heat without necessarily breaking the bank.
Check out these tips, tricks, and hacks to beat the beat while also lowering your bill this summer:
Tips on How to Lower Electric Bill in Summer
1. Clean Your Air Conditioner
When you think about ways to lower your electric bill in summer, one of the first places to start will be your AC. With the system running more frequently, you want to make sure you are maximizing its efficiency. You can do this by cleaning your unit and all its parts and replacing dirty air filters, which can altogether reduce energy consumption by about 5-15%. Similarly, doing regular maintenance can prolong your AC’s life, so you do not have to replace it early on.
2. Program Your Thermostat
Adjusting your thermostat is one of the best ways to increase energy efficiency at home. You can program it to prevent using electricity when no one is around so that you can avoid unwanted increases in your utility bills. With programmable thermostats available these days, you no longer have to adjust the device manually at all times.
3. Block the Sun
Summer is the perfect time to make use of your window coverings to block the sunlight. The hotter it is outside, the more your AC will have to work to cool your home. Thus, minimizing the amount of heat entering can help prevent using too much electricity. You might not realize it, but good-quality coverings can lower heat gain by up to 77%, making them a great option to solve the concern of lowering your electric bill.
4. Invest in ENERGY STAR appliances
While shopping for appliances, you may notice that some are ENERGY STAR certified. The US Environmental Protection Agency grants this label to appliances that meet certain standards to help reduce emissions, making them more energy-efficient than your traditional options. While investing in an ENERGY STAR appliance like an air conditioner may initially seem costly, you end up spending less in the long run since you can cut energy use by anywhere between 10-50%.
5. Unplug Your Devices
Similar to the benefits from programming your thermostat, unplugging devices when not in use can help you cut down on energy costs. Since it can be hard to monitor all your devices at all times, you can install smart power strips, which can boost energy efficiency by cutting off power on devices that are on standby mode. This way, you can avoid consuming electricity, even if your devices are not in use.
6. Use Windows at Night
It is not ideal to open your windows while the sun is still up since it can quickly turn your home into a burning furnace. However, at night, when the sun has set you can take advantage of the cool breeze with open windows. Doing this can also let cool air in and hot air out, so you do not have to use electricity all day.
Schedule Electrical Maintenance Today
Switching to energy efficient appliances and reducing your AC use can keep your electric bills down, even during the hotter days of the summer season.
As a professional electrician in Pinellas and Tarpon Springs, Pinellas County Electric offers a range of electrical repairs and maintenance services to solve your electrical problems. Call us today at 727-269-1982 to schedule a free consultation!
