Summer is here, and the temperature is only going to climb higher. But that doesn’t mean you have to accept sky-high utility bills. To save money on your air conditioning bill this summer, we recommend that homeowners and business owners in Los Angeles, Ventura and the San Fernando Valley follow these smart tips.
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Make Sure Your Windows and Doors Are Totally Sealed
One of the easiest ways to save money on your air conditioning bill this summer, is by making sure you’re only cooling your home (and not the whole neighborhood). Cool air produced by your AC is prone to seeping out through improperly sealed windows and/or doors. To ensure that as much of the cool air as possible stays within your home, stand outside your windows and doors, while the air conditioning unit is running. Do you feel cool air escaping around the frames? If so, it’s a good idea to caulk around windows, or add new seals to door frames. The idea is to make sure you’re only paying for the cool air you get to enjoy.
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Upgrade Your Thermostat
Multi-day programmable thermostats and smart thermostats can help you to keep your air conditioning costs under control this summer. Smart thermostats for example, allow you to adjust settings remotely. That way if you’ve forgotten to set the timer on your unit, you can do so from your phone. Otherprogrammable thermostats allow you to set your cooling preferences for days in advance. By programming your settings in advance, you can ensure that when you’re not home, your air conditioning isn’t running, and therefore running up your bill.
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Keep Your Blinds Closed
Direct sunlight will increase the temperature in your Los Angeles area home, which will cause your air conditioning unit to work that much harder to cool your home. Closing your blinds for the warmest part of the day keeps the direct sunlight out, and even serves as a form of insulation, to keep the cool air in.
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Aim for Comfortable, Not Necessarily Cold
The US Department of Energy recommends that the indoor temperature be set at 78-degrees, while you are at home in order to keep your air conditioning costs down. Similarly, during cool evenings, consider opening windows and using fans, instead of running your AC.
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Make Sure Your Thermostat Is Mounted on the Correct Wall
Believe it or not, the location of your thermostat can make a difference in your cooling costs in the summer. Consider that if your thermostat is mounted on a wall near a hot window, it will prompt your unit to run more frequently. It’s smart to mount your thermostat in the room that is most frequently used by you, your family, and guests. It’s also smart to make sure that the unit isn’t obstructed by furniture or doors.
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Make Sure to Maintain Your AC Unit
Even if you have an energy-efficient air conditioning unit in Los Angeles, if you don’t provide the proper maintenance, it will not work as efficiently as possible. For example, changing your AC filter once a month can lower your energy consumption significantly, thereby lowering your utility bills.
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Minimize Heat Generating Activities During the Day
Wherever possible, run your dishwasher, and clothes dryer in the evening as opposed to running it during the day. Remember that electronic equipment includingcomputers, stereos and televisions also generate a lot of heat, so be sure these are turned off if you’re not home, or not using them.
As an EPA Certified Business, First Choice Air provides new HVAC system sales, air conditioning maintenance, air conditioning unit repairs, air conditioning installation and emergency service throughout Los Angeles, Ventura, and the San Fernando Valley.
If you’d like to schedule a summer air conditioning tune up in Los Angeles, Ventura or the San Fernando Valley, contact our top-rated, locally owned team of HVAC experts at First Choice Air by calling 800-991-9247 
