The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently revealed that central air conditioning units are installed in approximately 68 percent of American homes, and nearly 90 percent of them are single family units. As a result of the year round warm weather, over two thirds of southern American homes run their air conditioning nonstop throughout the summer. Overall, the U.S. Energy Department reports that air conditioning accounts for about five percent of the electricity used in the United States.

Although more and more people from all over the United States depend on air conditioning units to stay comfortable on hot days, running them can be costly. In fact, Americans spend more than 11 billion dollars each year is spent on residential air conditioning. Unbeknownst to most homeowners, there are a couple of simple ways to reduce their air conditioning costs significantly.

Other than turning the AC off entirely, one of the most effective ways to reduce air conditioning costs is to have a high efficiency air conditioning system installed by experienced air conditioning services. Given the advances in air conditioning technology, homeowners can cut costs between 20 to 50 percent by purchasing a new system. Of course, the average homeowner would prefer to save money without having to spend thousands of dollars on a new central conditioning air system.

The Energy Department recommends that homeowners hire an experienced air conditioning repair service to conduct annual AC maintenance prior to the hottest season. In order for an air conditioning system to function at peak efficiency, AC fins, filters, and coils must be cleaned or replaced annually. For instance, when a central air conditioner repair service replaces or cleans an air conditioning filter, the efficiency of a given AC unit can increase by up to 15 percent.

Perhaps the easiest way to improve air conditioning efficiency is to get a heating and air conditioning repair service to check all window and door seals. While it may not seem like much, the slightest crack in a window seal will allow considerable cool air to escape. Over an entire summer, a flawed seal can amount to 250 dollars or more in unnecessary energy costs.

If homeowners are feeling like they are spending too much on air conditioning costs, they should consider contacting an experienced air conditioning repair service. An air conditioning expert can perform basic maintenance on any air conditioning unit, check for worn or damaged window and door seals, and make recommendations that can help homeowners save money while still keeping their cool.

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