Saving money is always a good thing and in some cases it can be easier than you may think. Here are some tips that may help you save money with your air conditioning system and will cost you little to nothing:

• Set your thermostat to a temperature as high as comfort will allow, each degree set under 78 can increase energy consumption substantially
• Check your filter on a monthly basis and change when need be. Dirty filters can cause considerable efficiency loss in the system
• Ensure that there are no heat creating devices near your thermostat, this can create a false reading and make the unit run harder and longer than needed
• If possible, wait until the evening to participate in heat creating activities such as baking and running the dishwasher, this will help lower the cooling load and desired temperature will be maintained and achieved easier
• Try to shade east and west facing windows, keeping the sun from shining into the area will also help achieve and maintain temperature easier

These are a few tips that can help lower cost and increase your unit’s life when followed. While these tips are great in many aspects, they will not replace the need and effectiveness of a professional maintenance plan. If you liked these steps, check back in the near future for more great HVAC tips!