Use Your Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans can’t lower the temperature of the rooms they’re in. They can, however, make you feel cooler when you’re in the same room as them. This is because they help sweat evaporate from your body, which is our natural way of cooling off. On a mild day, a ceiling fan alone may be plenty enough to keep you cool and keep your bills lower—though keep in mind ceiling fans have no purpose if nobody is in the room to appreciate the breeze.
When you’re using your air conditioner and you’re at home, though, ceiling fans help push cool air down and keep warm air rising. Therefore, pairing your ceiling fans with your central AC system enables you to run that AC at a higher temperature, thus lowering your monthly energy costs.
Change Your Air Filter As Needed
The air filter that comes with your air conditioner upon installation gets clogged up with dust, allergens, and other debris over the course of the year, which makes it harder for the air to circulate through your home. This means it’s harder for your cooling system to actually cool you off, and your system can start experiencing problems as a result.
Be sure to change your air filter every 1-3 months (this depends on what type of air filter you have and the level of contaminants in your home).
Keep the AC Clean
Cleaning is part of professional maintenance, which you should schedule for your air conditioner once a year. But you can also do your part—before you turn on the system for the first time this summer, make sure the vents and outdoor unit are unobstructed and clean to allow for proper airflow—and subsequently efficient operation.