You had the thermostat set to 72 degrees and your thermostat was telling you that it was 76 in the house. Shrugging, you might have figured, “Oh well. If the thermostat is reading 76, that must mean the electric bill won’t be too bad.”

Possibly you turned on the fans, too. After all, the slight breeze made the difference in temperature more comfortable. Unknowingly, you were only contributing further to that surprise electric bill.

What you didn’t notice at the time was that your air conditioner was working overtime trying to get down to the 72 degrees you set your thermostat.

Now your typical electric bill of $160 has ballooned into $650 and you’re faced with an unexpected expense – on top of the more pressing issue at hand which is, “What is wrong with my air conditioner?” That will cost some money to repair as well.

Outstanding Heating and Cooling wants to help you avoid this situation and give you some tips on how to prevent a similar problem happening to you.

-Check Your Filter

Whether you have the air conditioner struggling to come down in temperature or your furnace failing to bring the heat, it’s time to consult a pro. Before you pick up the phone, there’s something you need to check first. Do you need to change your filter? Oftentimes people forget to change that filter. When your system is struggling with air intake because your filter is dirty, it means the system will keep on trying to reach that set temperature. With that increase in dirt and buildup, it takes a lot more work on the system to maintain that temp in your home- if it can ever even reach it. If you recently changed your filter, or you replaced it and are still having issues, now is the time to make that call. While repairs cost money, in the long run you are saving yourself additional expenses due to higher energy bills or causing further damage to the system.

-Sign Up For Alerts Through Your Electric Provider

Most utility companies have an option to receive alerts for your bill. The most useful notification would be an alert that you are using more electricity than what is normal for your household. This can give you a heads up that something is not right, and give you an opportunity to fix it before you get that big bill at the end of the month.

-Make Sure Your System Is Up To Date On Maintenance

This isn’t just about professional maintenance. Just making sure your filter is changed on schedule is a crucial part of keeping your system running right. Sometimes people set reminders on their phones on the same day every month. Others have said that it’s convenient to buy more than one filter at once so that they are available when its time and it takes out that extra step of having to make a trip to the store. Manufacturers of your HVAC equipment also recommend regular maintenance and inspection by a trained and certified technician to ensure your system is operating as it should. In addition to maintenance and system performance, you have to consider what will keep your warranty intact. Most HVAC equipment has a warranty, and in order for you to be eligible to make a claim on the warranty, the regular, required maintenance must be up to date.

If you have questions on steps you can take to ensure you are maximizing your energy savings with your HVAC system, reach out to us! We can make recommendations on air purification, humidity control, zone systems, thermostats, ductless, upgrades, and more.

Updated 5/2022