Steps You Can Take Now To Help Keep Cooling Costs in Check This Summer

Summer cooling bills can sneak up quickly.

A few hotter days turn into weeks of constant air conditioning, and suddenly the electric bill feels much higher than expected.

The good news is that some of the best ways to reduce cooling costs are things you can do before the hottest part of summer arrives.

Small steps taken now can help your home stay cooler and reduce how hard your cooling system has to work later.

Here’s where to start.

Change or Clean Your Air Filter

If you haven’t run your cooling system for a few months, you haven’t needed to replace the filter. But when was it last replaced or cleaned?

A dirty HVAC filter can restrict airflow and make your system work harder than necessary.

Replacing or cleaning the filter regularly is one of the simplest and lowest-cost ways to help your system run more efficiently.

If you use window units, clean those filters too.

Find and Seal Air Leaks Around Doors and Windows

Cool air escaping through small gaps can increase cooling costs throughout the summer.

Check carefully around all doors and windows.

Simple weatherstripping or caulking can help reduce air leaks and keep cooled air inside longer.

Here are some how-tos on finding and plugging air leaks:

• Cold air getting in? How to find and seal hidden air leaks from GE
• Practical Air Sealing Techniques for Windows from This Old House
• Do-It-Yourself Savings Project: Using Caulk to Seal Air Leaks from the U.S. Department of Energy

Use Curtains and Blinds Strategically

Sunlight adds heat to your home quickly, especially during the hottest part of the day.

Closing blinds or curtains on sunny windows can help reduce indoor temperatures and lessen the workload on your air conditioner.

Blackout curtains or thermal curtains may help even more in particularly hot rooms.

TDS Note: A bedroom in my home has one window that gets direct sunlight for more than half the day, and it gets unbelievably hot. We covered the window with a reflective film and bought a blackout curtain liner to hang behind the existing curtain. It’s made a significant difference in the room’s temperature (and comfort) during the summer.

Use Ceiling Fans Correctly

Ceiling fans don’t lower room temperature, but they can help rooms feel cooler. That may allow you to raise the thermostat slightly without feeling uncomfortable.

During summer, ceiling fans should rotate counterclockwise to push air downward.

Just remember to turn the fans off when leaving a room. Fans cool people, not empty spaces.

Use these maintenance tips to clean them and ensure they’re ready for summer use.

If you don’t have ceiling fans, consider investing in a few oscillating fans that you can move easily to any room where you are spending time. And don’t forget to use bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans over the summer to pull the hot air that rises out of your home after cooking or showering.

Check Your Thermostat Settings Now

Even small thermostat adjustments can make a difference over the course of a summer.

Before peak heat arrives:

• Test comfortable temperature ranges
• Test setback temperature ranges (a 7°–10° setback is typically recommended when no one is home)
• Check and update thermostat settings if you have a programmable one

The earlier you build efficient habits, the easier they are to maintain.