10 Tips for Lowering Your Cooling Bill in Katy, Texas

Summer heat in Katy, Texas can drive up your cooling bill. Since your air conditioner is one of the hardest working appliances in your home, higher utility bills in the summer are a fact of life along the Texas Gulf Coast and Fort Bend County and far West Harris County. However, if your cooling system is out of whack, your utility bills could be higher than they should be.

If that happens to you, read on for our best tips for lowering your cooling bill.

What Causes Higher Than Usual Cooling Bills in the Summer?

High cooling bills in the summer can be indicative of parts wearing out on your air conditioner or heat pump. It can indicate that refrigerant levels are not in balance, either not enough refrigerant or too much refrigerant. Higher bills can also point to an air distribution problem caused by a clogged air filter or something as simple as a piece of furniture or curtains blocking an air register.

Another more unusual reason we come across frequently is having a heat source placed too close to the thermostat causing a false reading. Some of these heat sources can include lamps, televisions, candles, wax warmers or even digital picture frames.

We have also seen air conditioner issues caused by renovations in the home, such as by painters who accidentally reinstalled air supply grills backward. This can result in more heat infiltration into the home and can affect utility bills.

Can Smart Thermostats Help Reduce Utility Bills?

Smart thermostats can be extremely helpful to make your heating and cooling system more efficient. They are easy to set up and make scheduling simple. For example, if you plan to be on vacation over the summer, you can monitor and control your air conditioning system remotely. You can set it up a few degrees to save money and then cool it down when you’re on the way home. Many of them will send you alerts if something is wrong or not working correctly. This gives you more information, so you can schedule a repair more quickly.

When the summer temperatures are very high and if you feel your air conditioner isn’t able to keep up with the heat, we recommend consulting with a licensed air conditioning technician who can help you troubleshoot the problem. With the proper tools and diagnostic knowledge, they can provide the reporting needed to get to the root of the problem.

We recommend asking your favorite air conditioning and heating company for their advice to be sure any smart thermostat you pick will work for the HVAC system you have. They can set it up and handle quickly any warranty service should the need arise. Many Smart/Communicating HVAC systems available today have proprietary smart thermostats.

Should I Shut Off My AC When I’m Not at Home?

When heat is extreme, turning off your system during the day and then turning it on when you get home is not the best idea.

Contrary to what you might think, turning off your air conditioner can create large temperature extremes that can cost you more money in the long run. Your system will take a much longer time to cool down, which will require more energy and cost more. This is why we recommend adjusting your thermostat several degrees (no more than 6-7 degrees) during the day.

Are There Hacks I Should Use to Save Money on My Cooling Bill Circulating on Social Media?

Beware of advice found on social media. We have seen short-term solutions that can shorten the life of equipment, such as water misting systems positioned next to the outdoor condenser and umbrellas or popup tents positioned above the outdoor condenser, which recirculates the heat.

When in doubt, ask your favorite air conditioning and heating contractor for advice. Often if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.

What Tasks Can Homeowners Do to Lower Their AC Bills During the Summer?

The following 10 tasks can help you lower your air conditioning bills during the summer.

1. Change your air filters

   Regularly replacing air filters keeps your heating and cooling system clean and distributing air well. A lot of people believe that air filters make the air in the entire home cleaner, but they really serve to keep the inside working parts of your HVAC system cleaner.

2. Learn how to program your smart thermostat

   If you’re unsure how to program your smart thermostat, ask for help. Your air conditioning and heating company should be able to help you optimize the equipment you have. They will have more time to spend on questions like this in the spring before the weather heats up and their phone is ringing off the hook.

3. Set thermostat to cool

   Homeowners can check their thermostat to make sure it is set to “cool” or “auto” in the summer. If it is set to “heat,” it will not cool at all. We see this when the weather is mild.

4. Monitor your electricity usage

   By keeping track of energy usage over time, homeowners can spot any strange spikes and investigate the cause. Although the air conditioner is the largest consumer of electricity in most homes, the combination of all the other appliances makes up the other half. Your home has many appliances/electronics, so it may or may not be your air conditioner.

5. Consider ceiling fans

   Ceiling fans can reduce how cool the air feels to you, the wind chill factor. By using fans, you may be able to push your thermostat a few degrees warmer./li>

6. Super cool your home at night

   In the heat of the summer, you could consider pushing the thermostat lower at night and take advantage of that cooling, which will delay your air conditioner starting up the next day.

7. Reduce the heat gain from windows and doors

   During the hottest parts of the summer, it can be helpful to draw the shades or blinds during the day, especially on west-facing windows. Clear ceramic tint on windows can also make a big difference.

8. Choose light colors on your roof

   When changing your roof, consider choosing lighter colors that will reflect heat.

9. Strategically plan your landscape

   When planting or trimming trees and shrubs, consider how it will affect the shading of your home. Your house’s west-facing and south-facing parts will benefit the most from foliage coverage.

10. Reducing heat sources in your home

    Reducing sources of heat that emanate from appliances can help you keep a cooler home during the hottest part of the summer. Instead of firing up your gas oven or air fryer at 5 pm, use your grill outdoors or opt for cool salads. Instant pots can also have a lower heat signature in comparison to cooking on a stove. Consider running the clothes dryer at night, out of the heat of the day.

What Is the Single Biggest Factor That Contributes to High Utility Bills?

The number one problem we see in HVAC systems is related to how much refrigerant is being used in the cooling system. An HVAC system could have refrigerant levels that are too high or too low. An improperly charged system is best diagnosed by a licensed air conditioning technician who can properly evaluate and resolve the issue.

Should I Replace an HVAC System Because of Consistently High Cooling Bills?

Tell-tale signs it’s time to replace an HVAC unit generally revolve around the age of the cooling system you have. Most systems when properly serviced can last 12-20 years, less in coastal areas. If your system will require a larger repair, most companies are going to recommend replacing the entire system. Replacing an older system will, in many cases, save money in the long run because they are so much more efficient.

Installing an AHRI-certified matched HVAC system is now required by law. Newer equipment will also use the latest refrigerants, another area that has been changing in recent years. Toward the end of the year, we are expecting HVAC systems with the newest refrigerants (A2L), which have the lowest global warming potential yet. There have been a lot of changes related to energy efficiency requirements due to the AIM Act of 2020.

For people who want to be proactive, it is helpful to know that HVAC pricing tends to be lower in the off-season, typically in the fall and spring. In the fall and spring, homeowners can take advantage of seasonal promotions that HVAC manufacturers like RUUD/Rheem and others offer.

We recommend a regular air conditioner tune-up in the spring before the hot weather arrives for regular maintenance. This way we can spot any potential issues before they show up on the hottest day of the year. A spring tune-up gives the homeowner more time to explore options if a larger repair is needed and it is a good time to ask your licensed HVAC technician about any questions you have, such as what to do with that one room that never cools quite right or what their assessment is if your cooling system may be older. At your maintenance visit, your favorite AC and heating contractor may also give you a checklist or report card for your cooling system, so you have more information about how it has been performing.

Expert HVAC Expertise to Lower Your Cooling Bills in Katy, Texas

If your Katy, Texas home is experiencing higher than usual cooling bills, contact Terry’s A/C & Heating at 281-495-7830 for a prompt visit and diagnosis. Find out more about our family-owned and operated business that serves Katy, Texas neighborhoods and surrounding Fort Bend County and Far West Houston since 1982. Whether you need HVAC service, repair or replacement, we can help keep your home’s heating and cooling system working no matter what the weather is like outside.

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