Posted: May 5, 2025

How to Make Your AC More Comfortable and Cost Less

Summer Savings Is All About the Right Setting

The past few summers have been the hottest on record. That translates into bigger energy bills as you rely more on your air conditioning systems to keep comfortable. Now is the time to make sure your AC system is ready to handle the effort. A tune-up is the best way to ensure your cooling equipment is running at peak efficiency. Our expert mechanics don’t just change a filter. Our multipoint process is designed to catch and correct those small problems that can turn into big, expensive problems if they go unchecked.

Peak performance is an important way to keep your air conditioning working efficiently—which helps keep bills manageable. But when summer sizzles, and comes with extra humidity, you need more tools in your toolbox to keep your cool without sending your energy bill soaring along with temperatures.

The Magic Number

Start by keeping your thermostat at the ideal setting for your central AC to keep your home comfortable without jacking up energy bills. That magic number is 78 degrees.

You might think 78 is too high. But hear us out: the smaller the difference between your indoor and outdoor temperature, the lower your cooling bill will be. Keep in mind that the humidity plays a big part in how uncomfortable you feel when it’s hot. Setting your thermostat higher and reducing the humidity in your home will make a big difference.

And, much like you should be doing in winter, setting your thermostat for 10 degrees warmer (vs cooler in winter) when you’re not home will help lower your cooling bills even more. Using a programable or smart thermostat will let you set your thermostat to lower the temperature a half hour before you get home. If you have pets at home, you may want to set it only five degrees warmer.

When you use a smart thermostat to raise the AC when your out and turn it back down in time to make the house comfortable by the time you to get home, you may be able to cut cooling costs by as much as 10%, according to the United States Department of Energy. You can earn similar savings when you use it to control your heat in the winter.

More Cool Tools

Keeping the heat out of your house in the first place will mean you won’t feel the need to blast the AC. Making sure your home is properly insulated and sealed stops all that air you are spending money to cool from escaping—and does the same when you are trying to keep your home warm in winter.

If you have ceiling fans, they will help keep cool air down where you are. And a dehumidifier will help eliminate excess moisture in your home, which will make you feel less sticky and more comfortable.

Other steps you can take include closing blinds during the day so the sun can’t heat up your rooms. (Keep them open during the winter to warm up!) Run appliances like washers and dryers in the evening or early morning. And avoid using the stove and oven–summer is for grilling, after all!

Ready for a new, high-efficiency cooling system? Need a tune-up? Find out why so many of your neighbors across Connecticut have put their in trust us for heating and air conditioning services and so much more. Contact us today.