The average home dedicates nearly half of its entire energy consumption to heating and cooling. Consequently, any tool that can cool your home more efficiently can save a lot of money over time. If you want to make your cooling system more efficient, you have plenty of options. Most of them are quick and easy to implement, so it is convenient to slash your energy bill with a little bit of effort.

1. Use a Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats connect to your phone or computer, which allows you to control your air conditioner from almost anywhere. They also make it easy to program your thermostat, which ensures you will never accidentally leave the air conditioner running. Modern smart thermostats can even analyze your settings and create a program that maximizes energy efficiency. Those features make them one of the most convenient ways to save energy.

There are a lot of different smart thermostats on the market, so it can be hard to pick the right one. If you want to be sure you make a good choice, you need to get help from experts. At Crystal Blue Plumbing, Heating & Air, we focus on helping our clients get the most out of modern technology. We can guide you through the entire process and handle the upgrade if you live anywhere in or around Sacramento, CA.

2. Maintain Your Air Conditioner

Regular maintenance is the key to keeping your air conditioner working efficiently. Many components in air conditioners, such as the condenser coil, need regular cleaning to remove debris that accumulate over time. It is also important to keep the refrigerant supply at the right level and check the electrical connections. If you do not maintain your system, it will gradually lose efficiency as these problems build up.

Air conditioning maintenance is complicated, so it is important to have a professional handle it. We know how to test each component and maintain the system without introducing new problems. If you want to keep your system operating at peak efficiency, have us take a look at it every year. We can even set up a maintenance plan to make sure your system gets regular care.

3. Change Your Air Filter

You need to replace your air conditioning system’s air filter more often than any other component. If your filter is too dirty, it will interfere with the system’s airflow. That forces your air conditioner to work harder, which wastes energy.

Your filter’s lifespan will depend on your home’s air quality and how much you use it, which is often seasonal. Summer and winter tend to put more strain on the filters than other seasons. Your filter’s lifespan will also decrease if your home is full of dust or other airborne particles. You should check your filter every month and change it if it looks too dirty. If it looks reasonably clean, you can keep using it for another month. When in doubt, it is best to play it safe and replace the filter.

4. Check Your Ducts

Many cooling systems rely on air ducts to carry cold air throughout your home. Those ducts are vital, but they are also one of the leading causes of energy inefficiency. The problem is that old ducts tend to leak. As they suffer wear and tear, they accumulate little holes that allow cold air to escape. Your air conditioner has to work harder to force more air through the system to compensate for the loss. Some homes waste nearly a third of their system’s cold air, so fixing the leaks can have a big impact.

You can avoid this problem by having us seal your air ducts. We can test your ducts to find all of the leaks and then repair or replace them as necessary. The repairs also offer a few benefits beyond saving energy. Loose ducts can be noisy because they rattle when air passes through them. Damaged ducts are also prone to pulling musty air into the home. Fixing the ducts will help keep those bad smells and irritating noises under control.

5. Upgrade Your AC Unit

Maintenance can do a lot to boost an air conditioner’s efficiency, but it has limits. Technology marches on, so modern air conditioners are more efficient than old ones. If your air conditioner is getting old, it may be time to replace it. You should expect your air conditioner to last for roughly a decade as long as you maintain it properly. If your system is older than that, you should think about replacing it.

Replacing your air conditioner is a big project, so it is important to make informed choices. That is why we encourage you to call us for help. At Crystal Blue Plumbing, Heating & Air, we understand that it can be hard to choose the right air conditioner. We will be happy to explain all of your options and guide you to a unit that will meet your needs. Our team will also assess your home’s needs to size the new unit properly. This ensures that you will not waste energy by using an excessively powerful air conditioner.

6. Keep Heat Out With Curtains

Interior design can be the key to keeping your home cool on a hot day. Sunlight naturally warms your home over time. You can keep your home cool by blocking that light with blackout curtains. The exterior should be a light color to reflect light away from your home.

It is important to remember that this is a passive and preventative method. It will help prevent heat from entering your home, but it will not help if your home is already hot. You also have to remember to keep the curtains shut, which can interfere with lighting. This can supplement your air conditioning unit, but it cannot replace traditional cooling.

7. Turn Devices Off

All electrical devices release waste heat when you use them. Your phone and other small devices will not make a big difference, but desktop computers and other major devices have a big impact. You can think of them as small space heaters. Your air conditioning system needs to work harder to counteract that extra heat. You can save a surprising amount of energy by turning your electronics off when they are not in use. It reduces your cooling bill and avoids wasting energy to run the electronics, so you benefit twice.

Your Local Home Comfort Professionals

You can live in Sacramento without paying large utility bills if you make an effort to save energy. It’s easy if you maintain your air conditioner, use modern technology, and avoid bringing excess heat into your home. If that appeals to you, we can help. At Crystal Blue Plumbing, Heating & Air, we have spent more than 40 years keeping people cool in Sacramento. Besides cooling, heating, and indoor air quality installation, maintenance, and repair, we offer a complete line of plumbing services. We know that businesses thrive when they have happy, loyal customers, so we’ll always prioritize your satisfaction.

Give us a call at Crystal Blue Plumbing, Heating & Air today if you want to cool your Sacramento home without wasting energy.