Why your summer electric bill is so high (and what to fix first)

Check the easy things first

• Thermostat habits. The DOE estimates you can save up to about 10% a year on cooling by setting the thermostat higher by 7–10°F for eight hours a day, for example while you're out (U.S. Department of Energy). A smart or programmable thermostat makes it automatic.
• The filter. A clogged filter makes the blower work harder and the system run longer.
• The outdoor coil. Grass, dust and salt on the coil make the system run longer for the same cooling.
• Fan on On. The blower runs all day, and moisture from the coil gets blown back into the house. Use Auto.

The bigger causes

Leaky ducts

ENERGY STAR estimates that in a typical house about 20–30% of the air moving through the ducts is lost through leaks, holes and poor connections (ENERGY STAR). With ducts in a hot attic, that's cooled air you paid for going into the attic.

Low refrigerant

A leaking system runs longer to cool the same space, and it's heading toward a bigger failure.

An oversized or old system

Oversized systems short-cycle and waste energy; older low-SEER systems use far more electricity than a current 14.3+ SEER2 system.

Heat strips running without you knowing

In winter, a heat pump stuck on emergency heat, or a failed outdoor unit, runs on resistance strips, which are much more expensive.

Not the AC?

Pool pumps running long hours on older single-speed motors, electric water heaters, second refrigerators in the garage and dehumidifiers all add up. If the AC checks out fine, look at those next.

What we check

On a service visit we measure the temperature split, refrigerant pressures, airflow and electrical draw, look at the ducts we can reach, and tell you which fixes are worth doing, in order.