6 HVAC Tips to Save Money on Your Summer Energy Bill

Service the AC, change filters, shade windows, use fans and sensible thermostat settings, seal leaks, and consider a heat pump for efficient cooling. Together they cut summer electric bills without sacrificing comfort.

Summers here are short but humid

Upstate New York and Vermont summers are brief, but they can bring humid stretches of 85 to 90°F. That is when air conditioners run hard, and with electricity around $0.27 per kWh in New York, inefficient cooling is noticeable on the bill.

Here are six ways to spend less without being uncomfortable.

Cooling is a smaller share of annual energy use here than heating, but it is a bill you can control more easily with simple habits.

None of these tips require special tools, and most cost little or nothing. Start with the ones that fit your house and add the others as you go.

1. Tune up before the heat

Dirty coils, low refrigerant and worn parts make an AC work harder. A spring tune-up cleans the coil, checks refrigerant and electrical components, and tests the drain. Central A/C or heat pump tune-ups are $220.98 per visit. Our air conditioner repair team works on all brands.

Also clear leaves, grass and cottonwood fluff from around the outdoor unit, leaving at least a couple of feet of space on every side, and gently rinse the coil with a garden hose from the inside out only if you know how.

2. Change the filter

A clogged filter restricts airflow and reduces cooling. Check it monthly in summer. See choosing the right filter.

Do not forget return vents and registers. Furniture in front of them cuts airflow and makes the AC work longer to cool the same space.

3. Block the sun and use fans

Close blinds and curtains on sunny south and west windows during the day. Ceiling fans let you raise the thermostat a few degrees and feel just as comfortable, but turn them off when you leave the room. Cook outdoors or in the morning to avoid adding heat in the afternoon.

Cooking, laundry and dishwashers add heat and humidity. Run them in the cooler morning or evening and use exhaust fans, as in our bathroom fan guide.

4. Set the thermostat sensibly

Avoid setting the thermostat very low, which does not cool faster and wastes energy. A programmable or smart thermostat can raise the setting while you are away. With ductless heat pumps, use the Mitsubishi Comfort App to adjust remotely.

A dehumidifier can make 78°F feel more comfortable in a damp basement than 74°F in a humid one.

5. Seal and insulate

Weatherstrip doors and windows, seal ducts in hot attics, and add attic insulation. See attic insulation. These steps help in both seasons.

Window air conditioners work for single rooms but are noisy and block windows; a ductless head is quieter, down to 19 dB, and cools and heats the same room.

6. Consider a more efficient system

Older AC units use more electricity for the same cooling. Mitsubishi heat pumps both cool and heat, and our RUUD central AC runs from 16 to 19 SEER2. A heat pump can replace oil or propane heat in winter too, with savings estimated at about $950 per year from oil. See Mitsubishi air conditioning, and run the Heating Cost Calculator. We confirm rebate eligibility at the free estimate.

If you are replacing an AC that is 15 or more years old, compare a RUUD central AC (UA18AZ Ultra 19 SEER2, UA16AZ Achiever Plus 17 SEER2, RA14AZ Achiever 16 SEER2) against a Mitsubishi heat pump. We explain the differences without pressure.

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