Run Your AC Less, Stay Comfortable Anyway

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Creative Ways to Save Electricity by Running Your AC Less

There’s nothing quite like walking into a cool house when it’s blazing hot outside. But with electric bills climbing higher every summer, Many are left wondering if there’s a way to stay comfortable without watching the meter spin like a slot machine. The good news? There is. You don’t have to suffer through the heat to save money. You just need to get a little creative with how you use your AC.

Here are some of my favorite practical ways to give your AC a break—and keep your wallet from overheating.

1. Use Your AC Strategically, Not Constantly

Your AC doesn’t need to run full tilt all day long. In fact, you can often knock hours off its runtime by simply paying attention to when you actually need the cool air.

  • Set a schedule. If everyone’s gone during the day, let the house warm up a bit while you’re out, then cool it down before you get home.
  • Nights are your friend. Open windows and let the cooler nighttime air flush out some of the heat your home accumulated during the day.
  • Avoid extreme setpoints. Setting the thermostat to 68°F when it’s 98°F outside isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a fast track to a big bill. Keep the temp reasonable.

2. Zone Control—Even If You Don’t Have a Zoned System

Even without fancy zoning equipment, you can focus your cooling on the spaces you’re actually using.

  • Close doors to rooms you’re not using.
  • Use fans to circulate air where you are.
  • Block off hot rooms (like sun-soaked upstairs bedrooms during the day).

Less square footage to cool means less strain on your system.

3. Curtains, Blinds, and Strategic Sun Blocking

Windows are basically giant heat collectors. If you can block that sunlight from pouring in all day, your AC won’t have to work as hard.

  • Use blackout curtains on south and west-facing windows.
  • Consider adding exterior shading like awnings or shade sails.
  • Even temporary fixes like reflective window film can make a noticeable dent in heat gain.

4. Run Dehumidifiers to Help the AC Out

A big part of what makes summer feel miserable isn’t just the temperature—it’s the humidity. Your AC works to remove moisture, but if you live in a particularly humid climate, it can struggle to keep up.

A standalone dehumidifier can pull moisture out of the air, allowing you to keep the thermostat a little higher while still feeling comfortable.

5. Change Your Air Filter

It’s not glamorous advice, but a dirty filter makes your AC work a lot harder than it needs to. The harder it works, the longer it runs, the more electricity it burns.

  • Check your filter every month during peak season.
  • Use the correct thickness filter for your system (especially important at higher altitudes).
  • Don’t get sold on expensive “super filters” that choke off airflow.

6. Keep the Heat Out to Begin With

A lot of the heat your AC fights off comes from inside your house.

  • Avoid using the oven or stove during the hottest parts of the day.
  • Switch to LED lightbulbs if you haven’t already—they give off a lot less heat.
  • If you have attic space, check insulation levels and consider adding more.

Stopping heat from getting in is always cheaper than trying to remove it once it’s inside.

7. Ceiling Fans: Your Unsung Hero

Fans don’t lower the room temperature, but they make you feel cooler by moving air across your skin. You can often bump the thermostat up a few degrees if you’ve got fans running.

  • Just remember to turn them off when you leave the room—fans cool people, not spaces.

8. Short-Term Sacrifices, Long-Term Savings

Sometimes the best way to save money is simply to change your comfort expectations slightly. If you’re used to 72°F, try 75°F or even 76°F. Your body adapts faster than you might think, and every degree you raise the thermostat saves roughly 3% on your cooling costs.

The Bottom Line

You don’t need to choose between comfort and an affordable electric bill. With a few smart adjustments, some simple habits, and a little upfront work, you can enjoy summer while running your AC a lot less—and paying a lot less to do it.

Premier Mechanical – www.claimyourcomfort.com – 720.207.6812

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