When the summer time hits, energy bills are at the forefront of many of our customers’ minds. Frequent use of an air conditioner is often associated with higher energy bills, leaving building and home owners hesitant to run their AC often enough to keep them comfortable.

While it is true that some AC models can increase energy bills quite a bit (especially older, inefficient air conditioners), there are a few ways you can help to reduce your energy bill this season and keep your air conditioner or furnace running efficiently for years to come.

First, to ensure that your air conditioner (and furnace) is running at the highest efficiency
possible, it is important to have your system inspected and tuned up by a professional at least 2-4 times a year – generally before and after the winter and summer seasons. This allows a technician to properly calibrate thermostat readings, monitor refrigerant pressure, test air flow, clean coils, maintain safe operation and much more. We often hear the question “Why should I have my system tuned up if it’s working properly now?” The reasons to have your cooling and heating systems maintained regularly are to improve energy efficiency, keep your bills lower, help to recognize problems before they become emergencies, and extend the life of your furnace, improving your return on investment.

Alternative means of lowering your energy bills include small efforts around your home or commercial
building such as programming the thermostat to run a few degrees higher when the building is unoccupied. If you are concerned that your space will be too warm when you return, a ceiling fan is a great way to circulate cool air while using minimal energy. Other ideas include running appliances such as dishwashers at night to prevent the heat they emit from impacting the temperature in your home or office, or keeping oven use to a minimum during the summer. Closing blinds and curtains to limit the amount of sunlight entering through windows is another way to prevent rising cooling costs.

If you have more questions, or would like to schedule a tune-up on your air conditioner to prepare it for summer, please give ControlAir Systems a call at 781-286-0930. We’ll have a certified technician ready to make sure you are getting the most out of your air conditioning system!