When summer rolls into Raleigh, it doesn’t just crank up the heat; it often sends your energy bill soaring. You might think turning the thermostat up or running fans nonstop will help, but not every trick saves you money. Some actually do more harm than good. In this blog, we’ll look at simple changes you can make, what to avoid, and how the systems in your home play a role in all of it.
Know What’s Stealing Your Cold Air
Even with a solid air conditioning setup, you might be losing cool air without realizing it. Small gaps around windows, doors, or attic access points can let heat inside while letting your cooled air slip out. This creates a constant cycle where your system has to keep running just to maintain the same temperature. You might not feel a draft, but the loss adds up.
One way to test this is by checking for daylight around your doors or using your hand to feel for warm spots near windows on a hot afternoon. If the air around the frame feels warmer than the rest of the room, that spot might need sealing. Window film, weather stripping, or even heavier curtains can help reduce heat gain during the hottest part of the day.
Keep the Filter Clean or Pay the Price
A dirty air filter makes your cooling system struggle. When dust and debris block airflow, the system has to push harder just to move air through the vents. That extra effort burns more electricity and stresses your equipment.
If your household has pets or a lot of people, the filter clogs faster. In some cases, it might need a change every month during the summer.
Don’t Ignore What’s Happening in the Attic
Even if you don’t spend much time in your attic, it plays a vital role in how your home handles heat. On a hot day, your attic can reach extreme temperatures. This heat then radiates downward through the ceiling, especially if your insulation isn’t doing its job. If the insulation is too thin or worn out, that heat comes straight into the rooms below. Your air conditioner then has to battle not just the outside heat but the trapped heat above you, too.
The space between your ceiling and roof needs a barrier to slow down that heat transfer. Insulation does that. If it’s compressed or uneven, it loses its ability to help. That leads to more frequent cooling cycles and less comfort overall. The upstairs rooms might always feel warmer than the lower ones, which makes the system run longer to compensate. Adding more insulation or sealing attic air leaks won’t cool the space directly, but it gives your system a better chance at keeping the rooms below comfortable.
Set Your Ceiling Fans to Work With Your System
You might run ceiling fans without thinking much about direction, but how they spin makes a difference. In summer, you want the blades to spin counterclockwise. That pushes air downward and creates a breeze that helps sweat evaporate, which makes you feel cooler. If the fan spins the wrong way, it pulls air upward and does the opposite of what you want.
The breeze from a fan doesn’t lower the temperature of the room. What it does is help your body feel better in that space. That means you can raise the thermostat a few degrees and still feel just as cool. The fans use less electricity than an air conditioning system, so letting them do some of the comfort work can reduce how often your system has to cycle on.
Fans also help with airflow. If your home has spots where air seems to sit still, a ceiling fan can help push it around. That movement keeps rooms from feeling stuffy and makes the air conditioner work more consistently. You still need the system, but the fans fill in the gaps.
Watch the Heat You Make Indoors
Not all heat comes from outside. The appliances you use during the day can raise indoor temperatures, too. Cooking on the stove, running the dryer, or even using heat-generating electronics, like desktop computers, can add to the temperature increase and make your cooling system work harder. During the summer, it helps to shift these heat-heavy tasks to the early morning or late evening.
Cooking outside or using a microwave rather than the oven can cut the rise in indoor temperature significantly. You don’t need to avoid everything, but being aware of how your choices affect indoor heat can help you time things more carefully. The same goes for lighting. Older bulbs, especially incandescents, give off more heat than newer LEDs. If your fixtures still use those older bulbs, switching them can reduce both energy use and heat gain in the same step.
Let Your System Take a Break When You’re Out
Cooling an empty house wastes energy without giving you anything in return. If your schedule stays consistent, you can set the thermostat to shift to a higher temperature during the hours you’re away. You don’t need to shut it off completely. Raising it by five to seven degrees while you’re gone helps reduce system run time without letting the house get too hot.
If your schedule changes a lot, a programmable or smart thermostat can help. These models can shift based on your activity, not just the time of day. Some connect with your phone location to predict when you’re away or heading home. Either way, the goal is to keep the system from running when it doesn’t have to. You still get comfort when you need it, but you avoid waste during the hours you’re not home.
Keep the Outside Unit Clear and Ready
The outdoor unit for your air conditioner needs airflow to do its job. If it’s surrounded by weeds, leaves, or fencing that blocks ventilation, it can’t release heat properly. That makes the system strain harder to cool your home. During the warmer months, it’s worth checking around that unit every couple of weeks.
Trim back nearby plants, sweep away yard debris, and keep any objects a few feet away from the sides. The more room it has, the easier it can move air. You don’t need to open the unit or mess with the parts, but you do need to protect that clear space around it.
Think About Long-Term Comfort, Not Just Quick Fixes
If your cooling costs keep rising even when you’re careful, it might be time to look at the age of the system. Older units lose efficiency as parts wear out, and they don’t match the performance of newer models. You don’t have to replace it the first time your bill goes up, but if your system is more than 10 years old and your maintenance costs keep stacking up, it might be worth getting a full evaluation.
Call Us to Help Improve Energy Efficiency
Living in Raleigh means dealing with hot and sticky summers, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with high utility bills. Whether you’re trying to fix an inefficient system or simply want your space to feel more comfortable, there’s a better way to beat the heat. Our team at Dawson's Electric & Air can show you how to cool your home the smart way. With our AC maintenance services, you’ll enjoy air conditioning that runs efficiently and optimally. In addition to HVAC services, we offer whole-home surge protection, EV charger installations, panel upgrades, and electrical safety inspections, essentially making us your comprehensive solution for maintaining the systems in your home.
Interested in learning more about energy-efficient cooling in Raleigh? Give us a call today.
