Just Bought a Home? Avoid Air Conditioner Surprises with Your First Energy Bill

Don’t Get Left “Home Alone” with the Energy Meter Running

The moving vans have left, and you’ve finally managed to make some headway on all those boxes piled up in every room. Life seems to be settling into a new normal in your beautiful new home. The weather outside is sweltering, so what’s the harm in cranking up the air conditioner or your HVAC system to keep everyone cool?

Before you make any adjustments, consider the following to avoid getting stuck with an unexpected, high energy bill.

 Remember, You Just Met Your Air Conditioner.

Without knowing the ins and outs of your new home or its HVAC system, turning up the air conditioner that first month could prove an expensive proposition. Here are three simple, low-cost ways to ensure you’ve maximized your AC’s energy efficiency from the get-go:

Consider a programmable thermostat.

Did you know that the Department of Energy found that by increasing the temperature by 10 to 15 degrees in your home for only 8 hours a day, you can save up to 15% a year in energy costs? Given that you or your family is probably gone for most of the day, why waste money cooling your home when no one is there to enjoy it? That’s the first step to energy-efficient AC.

Still, it can be difficult to remember to dial back the thermostat on your HVAC system every morning before you leave for the office. Instead, why not install a programmable one that allows you to update and adjust as per your busy schedule? It’s a low-cost way to ensure you’re saving money, every day.

Change the air filter.

“New owners, new air filter” is a nice way to look at it. Unless you know for sure that the previous homeowners recently replaced the air filter on your air conditioner, why not spend the money (less than $20, usually) and install a fresh one? A clean filter not only helps with energy-efficient AC, it also ensures the airflow moves freely through the ducts. Otherwise, dirty filters can block the cool air from entering.

Want to be super frugal and avoid replacement unnecessarily? Take out the existing one and check it for debris. If you can’t see daylight through it, it’s time to eat the $12 and get a new one. Remember, these should be replaced at least once a year, more frequently if you have pets or allergy issues to worry about.

Clean the coils.

Clean coils on your outside air conditioner are also essential in maintaining maximum AC energy efficiency. The fan outside works to pull hot air into the coils, and can sometimes pull in dirt and other debris. If you’ve just purchased your home, it’s time for a look-see outside to examine your existing unit. Are the fins clean? Are there twigs, leaves or other waste clogging up the system? If you’re not sure, consider calling an HVAC specialist for inspection and service if necessary.

Service your air conditioner or HVAC system.

Even as a new homeowner, it can never hurt to have a professional team come out and inspect your air conditioner or HVAC unit to make sure that it is working as efficiently as possible. At the same time, you can also get information and sign up for an annual maintenance plan. These plans can help extend the life of your cooling system, reduce or eliminate repair costs and increase AC energy efficiency.

As an added bonus you can get acquainted with your HVAC professionals. That means you will get to know who is working on your system. In the event of a malfunction or repair issue, they will know what needs to be done and when to do it.

Get Peace of Mind With Air-Tro

Better safe than sorry when it comes to a new home’s heating and cooling system. Call Air-Tro today to have one of our HVAC professionals help you make your house and your air conditioning as energy-efficient as possible. Saving you money is our specialty!  Get in touch at (626) 357-3535.

With over 50 years of heating and cooling experience, we proudly serve Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley, Pasadena and the surrounding area.