Your air conditioner bill just arrived. You open it. You stare at the number. How is it possible that your electric bill is double what it was in April?
Welcome to summer in Florida. If you are new to the state or just did not pay attention to your bills last year, you are about to learn that air conditioning is expensive. Very expensive.
The good news is that the spike in your electric bill is not a mystery, and it is not something you have to just accept. There are real, practical reasons why your bill goes up in summer, and there are concrete steps you can take to keep costs down without sacrificing comfort.
Summer electric bills are high for several interconnected reasons, all related to how hard your air conditioner has to work in Florida heat.
When it is 95 degrees outside and your thermostat is set to 75 degrees inside, your AC has to work hard to overcome a 20-degree temperature difference. The hotter it is outside, the harder your system has to work, and the more energy it uses. In June, July, and August in Florida, outdoor temperatures regularly exceed 90 degrees, and roof temperatures can reach 160 degrees or more.
In winter, your heating system runs for short periods to bring the house up to temperature, then shuts off for hours. In summer, your AC runs almost constantly during the day. It cools the house, shuts off briefly, then turns back on because the house warms up again. This cycling continues all day and often into the night because even after sunset, outdoor temperatures stay high.
Electric rates during peak demand hours (typically 1 PM to 9 PM in summer) are higher than during off-peak hours. When the entire neighborhood is running their AC at full blast because it is 95 degrees outside, the utility company charges higher rates to manage peak demand. Many of your summer cooling happens during these expensive hours.
Heat from the sun comes in through windows, through the roof, and through walls. Warm outdoor air leaks in around doors, windows, and any gaps in the building envelope. Every time someone opens a door or a window, warm air rushes in and your AC has to work to cool it back down. The more heat your home gains, the harder your AC has to work to maintain the set temperature.
The increase varies depending on how much cooling your home needs and how efficiently your AC operates. A typical Florida household spends 40 to 60 percent of their annual electricity budget on cooling during the summer months. For a home that spends $1,500 per year on electricity, $600 to $900 of that might be summer air conditioning costs.
If your AC is older, inefficient, or not properly maintained, your summer bills can be even higher.
You cannot change the outdoor temperature or eliminate the demand for cooling. But you can reduce how much your AC has to work and how often it runs. Here are the most effective strategies.
Every degree you raise your thermostat can save 1 to 3 percent on cooling costs. If you normally keep your home at 72 degrees, try 75 degrees instead. Most people adjust to the change within a few days. Use ceiling fans to create air circulation so 75 degrees feels comfortable. This is the single most effective way to reduce your summer bill.
Close blinds, curtains, and shades during the hottest part of the day, especially on windows that face east or west. This blocks solar heat from entering your home and reduces the load on your AC. Open windows in the evening and early morning when outdoor temperatures are cooler to naturally cool the house.
Fans circulate air and help distribute cool air more efficiently throughout the room. Fans use very little electricity compared to AC, so running fans while raising the thermostat a few degrees saves money overall. Just remember that fans cool people, not spaces, so turn them off when you leave the room.
A well-maintained AC system runs more efficiently. Spring maintenance that includes cleaning coils, checking refrigerant levels, and replacing dirty filters can improve efficiency by 5 to 15 percent. This is money well spent if it is not too late. Even if summer is already here, a tune-up now will help.
A dirty air filter restricts airflow, forcing your AC to work harder and use more energy. Check your filter every month during summer and replace it if it looks dirty. This is an inexpensive maintenance task that pays for itself in energy savings.
Hot air leaking into your home forces your AC to work harder. Use weatherstripping or caulk to seal gaps around doors, windows, and any other openings. Even small leaks add up. This is a low-cost project that can make a noticeable difference.
If you are leaving town, raise the thermostat to 80 to 82 degrees while you are away. Your home will be warm when you return, but you will save significant energy costs. Many people make the mistake of lowering the temperature before leaving, which wastes energy cooling an empty house. When you return, you can lower it back down. For more details, check out best AC settings for vacation.
Ovens, stoves, dryers, and dishwashers produce heat and humidity that make your AC work harder. Use these appliances in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler. If you must use them during the day, close off the room from the rest of the house to contain the heat.
A smart thermostat learns your schedule and automatically adjusts temperature when you are away or asleep. Some models can reduce your cooling costs by 10 to 15 percent. If you do not have one, installing one is a worthwhile investment.
Your outdoor AC unit needs airflow to work efficiently. Remove leaves, grass, and debris from around the unit, and trim back any plants. A clean unit operates at peak efficiency, using less energy to do its job.
There is no single right number because every home is different, but here is a benchmark. A typical Florida home of 2,000 square feet with a modern, efficient AC system should have a summer electric bill of $150 to $250 per month. If you are paying significantly more than that, something might be wrong with your system or your home has air leaks, poor insulation, or other inefficiencies.
If your bill is extremely high, it is worth having a technician look at your system to make sure it is operating efficiently.
Summer electric bills are high because your AC has to work hard to overcome the heat and humidity of Florida summer. But you can keep costs reasonable by making smart choices: raise your thermostat slightly, close blinds during the day, maintain your system, and avoid using heat-producing appliances during peak hours.
Small changes add up. If you can reduce your cooling costs by 10 to 20 percent through these strategies, that is $100 to $200 per month in savings during peak summer. Over a three-month summer, that is $300 to $600 back in your pocket.
At ABS Heating and Air, we help homeowners understand their cooling costs and find ways to optimize their AC systems for efficiency. If you want to know whether your bill is normal or if something is wrong with your system, give us a call. We can do a maintenance check, identify any efficiency issues, and help you reduce your summer cooling costs.
Most experts estimate you can save 1 to 3 percent on your cooling costs for every degree you raise the thermostat. If your summer AC bill is $200 per month, raising it 3 degrees could save you $6 to $18 per month, or $18 to $54 per month over three months. That adds up.
Always leave your AC on when you leave, but raise the temperature to 80 to 82 degrees. Do not turn it off completely because the house will get extremely hot and humid, and your AC will have to work much harder to cool it back down when you return. Raising the temperature while you are away uses less energy and still maintains some cooling.
Many factors affect cooling costs: thermostat settings, insulation quality, air leaks, AC efficiency, shading of the home, window orientation, and how often windows and doors are opened. A well-maintained AC system in a well-insulated home with good window treatments will cost much less to cool than a poorly maintained system in a home with air leaks and no insulation.
No. Summer nights in Florida are often still warm and humid. Turning off the AC at night means you will be uncomfortable and your home will warm up. In the morning, your AC will have to work much harder to cool the house back down. This wastes more energy than maintaining a consistent temperature. Keep the AC on, but you can raise the temperature a few degrees at night.
For a typical 2,000 square foot home with a modern, efficient AC system, a normal summer electric bill is $150 to $250 per month. Bills higher than this may indicate efficiency issues, air leaks, poor insulation, or an older system. If your bill is significantly higher, have a technician evaluate your system.
Yes. A well-maintained AC system operates more efficiently and uses less energy. Clean coils, proper refrigerant levels, clean filters, and properly functioning components all reduce energy consumption. Maintenance can improve efficiency by 5 to 15 percent, which translates to real money saved on your electric bill.