Summer Energy Bill Blues: How To Beat The Heat And Save Money On Your AC Costs With Your Local Air Conditioning Service | Dallas, TX
There’s a lot to look forward to as summer temperatures heat up Dallas. There are festivals, outdoor concerts, food truck lunches, winery tours, and farmer’s markets. Of course, for many Dallas residents, summer is prime time to enjoy life indoors and out of the sweltering sunshine, comforted by the temperature controls of your trusty AC companion. But as you know, running your air conditioning system non-stop through a Dallas, TX, summer will cost you, and the energy bills of summer are no trifling matter. Here, we’ll explore how you can cut your AC costs with air conditioning service and maintenance and best practices.
Summer AC Costs in Dallas, TX
Summer is prime time for energy demand. As demand for energy increases, so do prices for energy. On average in the U.S., air conditioning costs account for 12% of annual energy bills. But that’s the U.S. average, which includes Maine and Minnesota. We’re talking about Texas. In Dallas, it’s not uncommon for residents to turn on their air conditioners in spring and fall. In summer, many residents can hardly stand to be without it, and rely on emergency air conditioning service if their AC goes out.
During the summer in Dallas, TX, many residents can expect energy bills between $150 – $300; however, if you have a large house, that energy bill might hit the $500 mark. Businesses, too, can expect their summer energy bills to spike. Although for many, air conditioning is a necessity, that doesn’t mean that footing the bill is particularly enjoyable. That’s why One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas’ air conditioning service has put together some ideas for reducing your energy bills without sacrificing your comfortable indoor climate.
Install a Smart Thermostat
Just because you have a working thermostat, doesn’t mean it’s the ideal model for your home. A smart thermostat or programmable thermostat is a terrific way to help you reduce your AC bills. There are all sorts of ‘smart’ products today, and while you don’t need them all, you can benefit in the pocketbook by installing a smart thermostat.
Smart Thermostats Conserve Energy
After you invite One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas’ air conditioning service to install a programmable thermostat in your home, you can start saving energy, which reduces the amount you’ll be expected to pay each month. These thermostats make it possible for your AC system to use less energy to cool your home (and for your furnace to heat your home) because they prompt energy-saving adjustments.
Improved Comfort
Over time, smart thermostats are able to get to ‘know’ your climate preferences. On workdays, for example, it can turn up the temperature while you’re away and adjust it back down to your preferred temperature just before you get home. That level of adjustment will save you money over time because your AC unit isn’t tasked to cool an empty home. That can also mean less wear and tear for your unit–and fewer calls for air conditioning service and repairs.
Smart Features
Finally, smart thermostats are equipped with smart features. They can provide you with timely reminders for changing your air filter. They can even alert you when it’s time to call your air conditioning service provider, One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas, for a maintenance and inspection visit.
If you’re interested in this money-saving feature, contact One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas and we can help you choose the right model programmable thermostat for your Dallas, TX, home and then install it for you.
Cover Your Windows
One of the glorious features about Dallas, TX, is its sunshine, but while the sun can provide you with day-long natural light through your home’s windows, it will also heat up the house. As sunlight penetrates your windows and begins to heat up your home, it forces your air conditioning system to get back to work cooling the house off. All day long, your AC is forced to compete with the heating power of the sun. The harder it works, the more you will have to pay on your energy bill.
And that’s not all. An AC unit that’s continually overtaxed is subject to breaking down more frequently. Then, you’ll be forced to pay for an air conditioning service call to get it back to work again. You can reduce the sun’s heating action in your home by simply covering up your windows. Consider installing solar screens which deflect the heat before it enters through your windows. You can also invest in energy-efficient window coverings like window blinds, shades, and black-out draperies. If you enjoy the natural light, you can still diminish its intensity by installing awnings atop your exterior windows.
Solar Powered Attic Fan
Consider installing a solar-powered attic fan in your home. This feature is a smart investment. Once purchased and installed by our air conditioning service, the solar fan won’t cost you to operate, but it will go to work helping to keep your home cool, reduce your reliance on your air conditioning system, and save your money on your electric bills. A solar fan draws heat up and out of your home. This means that your AC unit won’t have to kick on as frequently to maintain your cool interior temperature.
Remember, that the less your AC unit has to work hard, the fewer air conditioning service calls you’re likely to make. By pampering your AC system and making sure it’s not overtaxed, you may be able to enhance its longevity. A solar fan can also improve your home’s air circulation and during the winter, it can be reversed to push heat back downward as it rises. That means your furnace will have to work less hard to heat your house during the cool season.
Install Ceiling Fans
You can improve the air circulation of your home by adding ceiling fans to various rooms in your house. While the fans won’t necessarily save you much on your energy bill, they can help cool your home and reduce the need to turn down the thermostat for more AC cooling power. In fact, in spring and fall, your fans may provide you with a comfortable interior temperature, allowing you to leave the AC unit shut off. That can definitely save you money on your annual energy expenses.
Cook Outdoors
If you have a patio, consider making more use of it during the summer, allowing it to do double-duty as an outdoor kitchen. Running your stove and oven during the hot summer months will force your AC unit to work harder to maintain the cool temperature setting on your thermostat. That means that it’s going to draw more energy and increase your bill. When you cook outdoors, you can keep the heat outdoors.
Alternatively, when cooking inside, you might rely on your slow cooker or air fryer to cook foods as they won’t heat up the kitchen like your stove and oven will. These small measures also mean less wear and tear on your AC. When you work your unit less hard, you’ll need to make fewer air conditioning service calls for your home.
Seal Leaks
Even small cracks near your windows can allow heat to enter your house and cool air to escape it. When your house is effectively sealed, the cool air remains inside, which means that your AC unit won’t have to work harder to maintain that nice, cool temperature you love. In the spring, take time to inspect your windows. Be sure any cracks are sealed. Similarly, look for places where leaks are likely to occur like where lines enter the home or where your foundation meets the siding.
If you’re concerned about leaks, you can invite your power company to perform an energy audit. They can assess your home and tell you where the leaks are. Once you shore the leaks up and properly seal your house against energy transfer, you can save on your AC unit’s wear and tear and begin to reduce your energy bills. A properly sealed home also means improved energy conservation during the winter months too.
Schedule Air Conditioning Service and Maintenance
One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas performs air conditioning service and maintenance for homes in and near Dallas, TX. Having your air conditioning system serviced and inspected helps guard against expensive breakdowns. It’s typically cheaper to replace a wearing component than to fix a broken-down system that’s damaged by a worn part.
When you contact One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas, we’ll send a certified air conditioning service technician to your home to inspect your air conditioning system and give it a thorough tune-up. During the inspection, we’ll make sure that your unit is functioning just as it’s supposed to. A tune-up involves lubricating parts and performing other measures that help your unit function more efficiently.
When your air conditioning system works as it’s supposed to–effectively and efficiently–you can expect to use less energy than if your unit was working inefficiently. Our technicians take time to evaluate all the major components of your system during our air conditioning service and maintenance appointment. By caring for your AC unit with an annual inspection and maintenance, you can reduce the need for expensive repairs and ensure that it’s functioning properly.
Install an Energy-Efficient Air Conditioning System
If your AC unit is old, it’s not going to be near as energy efficient as today’s models. Today’s energy-efficient models cost property owners less on their energy costs. While a new AC unit involves significant expense, its installation also adds value to your home and will definitely help you save on your energy bills. Over time, that savings adds up to a considerable amount, which helps to defray the cost of your purchase and installation by your air conditioning service.
Of course, there are many air conditioning systems to choose from. It can be challenging to decide which one is ideal for your home. If you’re considering the purchase of a new AC system, be sure to contact One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas and speak with an air conditioning service technician on our team. We can help you select the best model for your home and budget. Each of our air conditioning service technicians is able to consult with you about an AC replacement for your home.
It’s imperative to choose the right size model for your house. If you install an air conditioner that’s too large, it’s going to guzzle up more energy than is actually necessary for cooling your house. In spite of its energy-efficient design, you’ll still be paying higher energy bills. On the other hand, installing an AC unit that’s too small is also problematic. A unit that’s too small will be forced to work overtime in order to cool your house. An overtaxed AC system will result in the placing of more air conditioning service and repair calls and reduced AC unit longevity.
One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas features HVAC technicians who are up to date with all the best energy-efficient models on the market today. We’ll help you source the right size, energy-efficient AC unit. Then, we can install the unit and ensure that it’s working perfectly and ready to cool your home for many Dallas, TX, summers to come.
Use these tips and ideas to start saving money this summer on your energy bills. Every little bit of savings adds up. If you want to schedule an air conditioning service and maintenance appointment, just call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas. Our technicians will bring everything needed to inspect and service your AC unit. We can also provide you with furnace maintenance and repair services. Contact our company to learn more about our HVAC solutions.
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