Running AC All Summer Costs $800 or More: Here's How I Cut It in Half
When summertime rolls around, two things in my household are guaranteed. Our grocery bill increases because the kids are home and our electricity bill rises from running the air conditioning continuously.
According to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), American households are expected to spend $792 on air conditioning between June and September 2026. This is a 10.5% increase from 2025.
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Because of the price increases, I decided to make some changes to significantly cut our bill and save money this summer. Even though it's almost August, hot days are still ahead so you still have opportunities to cut those costs. Here are some of the steps I’ve taken.
Raise the Thermostat a Few Degrees
One of the easiest ways to lower your summer cooling costs is to raise your home’s thermostat slightly. In my house, we’ve always kept the temperature at 74 degrees during the day, but we recently moved it up to 76 degrees. At night, we moved it up to 78 degrees.
Depending on your air conditioner’s efficiency and your climate, each degree you raise the thermostat can save between 1% and 3% on your cooling costs.
Install or Program a Smart Thermostat
We’ve always had a programmable thermostat in our house, but I recently added a smart thermostat. With a programmable thermostat, you can set a schedule for the temperature at different times of day. A smart thermostat adjusts the temperature automatically based on your habits. Geofencing even lets it adjust when it knows you’re not home.
What I love about having a smart system is that I no longer need to worry about turning the temperature back up when we go out of town. Now I can take care of it from my iPhone.
According to EPA Energy Star estimates, you can save roughly 8% on your annual heating and cooling costs by using a programmable or smart thermostat.
Change Your HVAC Air Filter
A simple but easily forgotten task is changing the air filter on your HVAC system. Forgetting to do so can cause the filter to clog, making your air conditioner work harder than it needs to.
By changing your air filter every one to three months, depending on usage, you can reduce how much your air conditioner needs to run, increase the lifespan of your HVAC system and improve your home’s air quality.
Seal Air Leaks
If your home has older windows and doors, there’s a chance they are leaking air, costing you money. This spring, I went around to each of our windows and doors and added weatherstripping where it made sense. This helps us keep the cool air inside the house from escaping to the outside.
Other things you can do include caulking windows and sealing gaps around plumbing and wiring penetrations. Not only will this help keep moisture and pests out of your home, but it will also help lower your energy costs.
Use Ceiling Fans Correctly
Did you know you’re supposed to run your fans in a different direction in the summer than in the winter? During the summer, you should have them set to run counterclockwise to help push air down in your room. This creates what’s known as the “wind chill” effect, helping to lower the room temperature by as much as four degrees. By doing this, you might find that your rooms stay cooler and you can raise the thermostat temperature even further.
Close Curtains and Blinds During Peak Sun
Living in Colorado, we deal with extremely strong afternoon sun. Because the back of our house faces west, that side of the house can get extremely hot in the summertime. One easy way to combat the heat is to keep the curtains and blinds closed. This will help prevent the strong sun rays from entering the home and make it feel considerably cooler.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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