Welcome to the “Texas Winter Roller Coaster!” When the weather starts to get warm or too cold on the same day, you rely on your home’s HVAC system to help you stay cool or warm inside. BUT…. This also means you’re going to take a hit on your CPS Energy bill!
If you’re like most homeowners in San Antonio Texas, you spend an average of $145 a month for electricity throughout the year. While your electric bill will go up during the warmer months, the change shouldn’t be that drastic. However, When your CPS energy bill keeps creeping up and you’re getting into the $500+ range in the summer or into the $250+ range in the winter, the cause might not be CPS Energy. It could be your home’s HVAC unit.
Here are a few problems that can cause your energy bill to get out of control:
Leaky Ductwork – When Cool or Warm Air is Leaking out of Your Ducts Into Your Attic
Central AC systems are the most common types of residential systems we see in the majority of San Antonio houses. The central HVAC system sends air through hidden air ducts in your home to help cool your space – mostly in your attic.
When the air ducts are in new or good condition, each room gets the warm or cool air it needs quickly and efficiently. But when you’re pulling down your Christmas Tree, it’s normal for air ducts to develop leaks over time if you’re sliding boxes in and out of your attic.
Those leaks cause your warmed or cool, conditioned air to leak out of the ducts and into your attic instead of reaching the rooms you’re trying to cool or warm. This causes your air conditioner or heating system to work harder just to bring each room down to your ideal temperature. Just think…. While warm or cool air is leaking into your attic, money is leaking out of your wallet, in the form of higher energy bills!
If you think you have leaking air ducts, schedule an appointment with Caliente Plumbing Heating & Air technician and let us inspect your system.
Your HVAC System Is Old
Just like your mobile phone, HVAC technology consistently improves year after year and older units just aren’t going to be as efficient as newer models. Your consistently high electric bill is definitely a sign that it’s time to upgrade your system.
The average central air conditioning system lasts for up to 15 years with regular care and maintenance by a professional company.
Think about how long you’ve had your current HVAC system in place and how often you’ve gotten it serviced. If the system is close to 15 years old or you haven’t kept up with maintenance, it could be time to invest in a new system.
Once you get the new air conditioner installed, you’ll likely see a huge decrease in your monthly electric bill. Think about it, you can continue to pay a higher than average electric bill or you can convert that payment into a newer HVAC system that will save you money in the long run!
Your HVAC System Is the Wrong Unit for Your Home
AC Systems are not a one-size-fits-all appliance. Your AC system needs to be properly sized for your house and your family’s cooling needs.
If your Air Conditioning system is too large, it won’t adequately cool your home and will still use more electricity than it should anytime it kicks on. If your air conditioning system is too small, the system will have to run almost constantly to keep your home close to your preferred temperature.
We recommend that you get your AC unit inspected by us. If your Caliente technician determines that the unit is the wrong size for your house, you’ll need to replace it as soon as possible.
Otherwise, you’ll end up with a home that’s less comfortable and a CPS energy bill that keeps getting higher and higher.
You Have Dirty AC Filters
HVAC units bring air from outside your home to help keep the air inside your home fresh and clean. That air has to pass through high-quality air conditioning filters that remove impurities like pollen, pet dander, allergens, dust and dirt.
Eventually, those filters will get dirty and clogged, making it harder for air from your HVAC unit to pass through them. This forces your air conditioner to work much harder to cool your home.
In less than one minute, you can check your air filters and see if they look clogged. If the normally white filter looks dirty, put a new one in. As a general rule, you should replace your filters once every three months but in the summer time, we recommend at least once per month. This will help you keep your energy bill as low as possible throughout the warmest months.
It’s Been Too Long Since You Had an AC Tune-Up
Air conditioning Systems require regular tune-ups to work properly – just like your car. During AC Tune Up appointments, your Caliente HVAC technician will inspect the entire unit to make sure it’s working in top condition.
If they find any issues or minor problems, they’ll be able to make the repairs quickly so your unit will work as efficiently as possible.
Skipping regular tune-ups is a great way to cause your air conditioning bill to increase month after month. Your AC System has hundreds of complicated parts and keeping everything clean and balanced is important for keeping your electric bill as low as possible.
Your Thermostat is bad
Believe it or not, high ac electric bills aren’t always caused by air conditioners. You can also have a bad thermostat.
When you set the thermostat, you expect it to deliveryour preferred temperature to your air conditioning unit. Once the system warms or cools the space to your desired temperature, the system will turn off and won’t turn back on until the thermostat tells it to. Thermostats that work properly will do this without any problems. However, if your thermostat’s broken or isn’t working correctly, your air conditioner or heater may not know when to turn on or off. This can cause your energy bills to increase dramatically!
Your Caliente HVAC technician can repair or replace your thermostat and restore your AC unit’s functionality in a matter of minutes and it makes a world of difference!
Check These Things and Lower Your AC Electric Bill
If you’re worried about paying an overly high AC electric bill, do a little investigating around your house. Check for these common causes of high electric bills and see if you can identify the issue.
Call Caliente Plumbing, Heating & Air for an HVAC tune up today and let’s keep your electric bill as low as possible!
