Summertime is perfect for outdoor activities in the warm weather with friends and family. However, staying indoors in summer can be extremely uncomfortable due to the harsh hot weather. It also makes it nearly impossible to sleep well at night or relax after a long day at work.

Additionally, your air conditioner works extra hard to keep your home cool and comfortable, which increases your cooling bill and makes your AC more likely to break down. Being proactive with your air conditioning maintenance can help keep your system operating efficiently and avoid unexpected breakdowns, significantly reducing your cooling costs. Below are a few other effective ways to slash your home’s cooling costs during the hot summer weather:

1. Use a Ceiling Fan

While a ceiling fan won’t cool your home, its wind-chill effect can make you feel cooler and more comfortable in summer. An electric fan helps disperse cooled air from your air conditioner throughout the room more efficiently. Running a ceiling fan prevents you from turning your thermostat too low to keep your room’s temperature comfortable and consumes less energy than an air conditioner. This reduces the load on your air conditioner, making it run more economically and saving more on cooling costs. Always turn off the ceiling fan whenever you exit a room to save more on energy bills.

2. Use a Programmable Thermostat
   If the weather demands it and there’s someone at home, there’s no problem running your air conditioner all day. However, turning your AC unit on to cool an empty house can lead to unnecessary energy consumption and higher cooling costs. A programmable thermostat can reduce your cooling costs by ensuring your air conditioner runs only when needed.
   That’s because you can adjust the settings of your programmable thermostat to start cooling your home only at specific times of the day. For instance, you can program your thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature to a lower setting an hour before you get from work so you can find the house already cooled down. Adjusting the thermostat a few degrees higher anytime your home is unoccupied can help save energy and money.
3. Avoid Heat Buildup During the Day
   When your home is excessively hot, your air conditioner works extra hard, which increases energy consumption and costs. Thus, avoid activities that generate a lot of heat during the day.
   Consider using your clothes dryer and dishwasher or cooking on a stovetop early morning or later in the evening when the temperatures are lower outside. Otherwise, cook or grill outdoors, wash dishes by hand, and air-dry clothes. Lights are also big heat generators, so always turn them off during the day or when not in use.
   Also, consider installing CFL and LED light bulbs since they produce less heat and are more energy efficient. Opt for reflective and insulated window treatments and always keep them lowered or completely closed to block direct sunlight and prevent heat buildup inside your home.
   Endnote
   Reduce your energy consumption and spend less on your cooling costs next summer using the tips mentioned above. It’s also important that you properly care for your air conditioner by keeping up with regular maintenance. This will help your AC run more efficiently, significantly reducing its energy consumption during summer.