Learn the most important air conditioning energy saving tips for Sarasota and Bradenton Counties, courtesy of Airrific Air Conditioning and Heating.

Energy Saving Tips

Making your air conditioning (AC) system more efficient doesn't mean you have to suffer in a hot house.

Air Conditioning systems in Southwest Florida are under constant demand during the cooling seasons. However, taking simple steps may help you significantly reduce your energy bills yet remain comfortable at the same time.

One of the easiest ways to lower your need to cool your home is to keep it from heating up in the first place.

• Keep lights off in rooms when not in use. Lights generate heat and make your air conditioner run more.

• Eliminate activities that require a great deal of going in and out of your doors. This keeps the cool, conditioned air in and the hot air out.

• Tune up your central air conditioning system! A tuned-up system will run efficiently, lower your electric bill and prolong the life of your system. Learn more about our 40-Point Precision Tune Up process.

• One of the most inexpensive ways to reduce your air conditioner's cost is to adjust your thermostat settings. The savings can be significant when you set your thermostat around 78 degrees or higher during the cooling season. For each degree you raise your thermostat setting, you reduce seasonal cooling costs by 6-8%, yet most people will remain comfortable. Learn more about thermostats here.

• Use a ceiling fan or portable fan to supplement your air conditioner. A fan makes you feel three to four degrees cooler and only costs half-a-cent to operate per hour. This allows you to turn your thermostat up a few degrees and save on cooling costs simultaneously. (Use in occupied rooms since fans cool people not rooms.)

• Turn off your air conditioner or set your thermostat up a few degrees when leaving home.

• Be sure your outdoor air conditioning unit isn't blocked by landscaping or other objects that restrict air flow through the coils. A free-flowing AC unit operates most efficiently.

• Also be sure the return air vents inside your home aren't blocked by furniture or objects, for the same reason.

• Change your air filter every 3-6 months.

• When your air conditioner is on, keep doors and windows shut. Turn off kitchen or exhaust fans when your air conditioner is operating.

• Chauk or weather strip leaky windows and doors so the cold air doesn't escape and the warm air from the outside doesn't enter the room.

• Landscape your lot to shade your home.

• If replacing your roof, use a light color material to reflect the heat.

• Avoid using the oven on real hot days. Cook on the stovetop, use the microwave or, better yet, grill outdoors.

• If you suspect your air conditioner is not working efficiently, have it checked immediately. A unit that's not operating properly can amount to extremely high electric bills.

• If your equipment is older or less efficient, compensate by being extra careful about temperature settings, hours of operation and the condition of your air filter.

Four Tips that Provide the Greatest HVAC Energy Savings:

• Replace an old system with a high efficiency unit. Newer models use up to 40% less electricity than older models. Learn more about high efficiency air conditioners.

• Sealing all leaks in your ductwork. The average home loses 15 to 25% of cooling and heating through leaking ducts. Learn more about sealing ductwork.

• Add insulation to your home. The more insulation, the more your house holds in the cool air in the summer and the warm heat in the winter months.

• Install solar screens or awnings on windows hit by direct sunlight. Solar screens reflect back 60-70% of heat/sunlight before it enters the home.

Contact the specialists at Airrific Air Conditioning and Heating to learn more about these money saving energy tips.