People have been beating the heat since 1926, thanks to Willis Haviland Carrier, an American engineer, who invented modern air conditioning for homes. Fast forward 89 years later and more than two-thirds of all U.S. homes have air conditioning, spending more than $11 billion annually in cooling costs.*
There’s a reason why we’re spending so much. Here in hot South Texas, the HVAC (heating, ventilation and cooling) system makes up almost 60 percent of your energy bill during the summer. If you’re keeping your thermostat set to an ideal temperature like 78 to 80, your system will run on average 12 hours out of a 24-hour period. But if the temperature outside is more than 20 degrees higher than your thermostat setting, i.e. thermostat is at 78 and heat index is 102, then your air conditioning system will run even more.
To help your HVAC system run as efficiently as possible, make sure you do regular maintenance. After all, it’s been working hard for you.
If you neglect your system, you may have to call a professional. But before you do, here is a list of common air conditioner problems and some troubleshooting tips.
Looking for a free A/C checkup? Join us at our Energy Savings Roadshow and register to win an A/C checkup, a free energy audit or the grand prize – a central A/C system.
*Source: energysavers.gov
RELATED STORIES:
Minimizing summer heat impact to your bill
Humidity: bad for hair and energy bills
CPS Energy, customers partner to reduce energy demand
The post Air conditioning tips keep you from sweating repairs appeared first on CPS Energy Newsroom and Blog.