How Can I Estimate How Much I’m Spending on Air Conditioning?

Energy bills can’t be avoided completely if you live in a climate with regular heating or cooling needs. Air conditioning bills in the summer can be particularly brutal if you don’t know exactly how much of your money is going toward cooling versus other needs. Estimating how much you’re spending on air conditioning each month can help you make better decisions regarding your energy consumption.

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Why Get an Estimate on What You’re Spending?

If you live in a climate with hot summers, you may feel as though you have no choice but to run your AC each day, regardless of what it costs. You probably see a spike in your energy bill during the summer months. Finding out how much you spend on AC each month can help you:

Determine if it’s worth the money to upgrade to a more energy efficient unit

Help you budget for higher electricity during the warmer months

Make more informed decisions about how often you run your air conditioner and at what temperature you set the thermostat

Get a Quick Estimate

If you’re just looking for a ballpark figure of what your air conditioner costs to run each month, grab a copy of your electric bill. Take a look at your energy consumption during the months of March and April. (Depending upon location, most people commonly stop running heat or air conditioning during these two months.) Look at the figure for what you spend in electricity.

Now take a look at a copy of your bill for the month of July, which is typically the peak month for air conditioning usage. Subtract the amount that you spend in March or April from what you spend in July. The amount that’s left is a rough estimate of how much you are spending on air conditioning.

Keep in mind that this estimate is not exact. If you air dry your clothes in the summer, but run a clothes dryer in the spring, this will skew your estimate by as much as $50 a month. Changes in electricity usage habits, as well as a reduction in the use of hot water heaters in the summer can also impact your final figure.

Upgrading Your Unit

If you’re upgrading your air conditioning unit and you want to determine how much you could potentially save on your energy bills, first get your estimate of what you currently spend. Next, find out your current air conditioner’s SEER number. (SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, and every air conditioner has one.) AC units that are more than 10 years old will probably have a particularly low number.

Once you know what you are currently spending and what your current unit’s SEER is, research the SEER ratings on units that you are considering. For every point that the SEER number goes up, you can expect a 10 percent reduction in your energy bill. If you are spending about $200 a month and your current unit has a SEER number of 10, upgrading to a unit with a SEER of 13 will save you about 30 percent a month, or around $60 a month.

Take Control of Your Bill

Finding out what you spend each month on air conditioning can be the first step in lowering your energy bills. Get your estimate and start making more informed decisions.

Precision August 20, 2017

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I wanted to make sure my air conditioner was ready for summer. Fernando came out and made sure my unit was tip top. He was friendly, professional and not a sales man. Thanks Fernando!
Testimonials - Brett Walker
Brett Walker
Colin and Andrea were incredibly professional and knowledgeable. They did a great job representing the company. We will definitely contact them again for any HVAC needs that arise.
Testimonials - Jackie Barkenhagen
Jackie Barkenhagen
We woke up in the middle of the nite on memorial day to a hot house. I called precision at 6am and they were here before noon. Simple problem fixed, cool house. I love these guys!
Testimonials - Nick Corso
Nick Corso
Thank you Ray at Precision Air...the compressor on our AC went out last night and the house was HOT. This morning Ray was there to replace the compressor and had us feeling the cool air again in no time. Great customer service...quick response time and friendly from the first call until the repair was completed. Ray even offered to clean the filters! Thank you!!
Testimonials - Jeneen Piche
Jeneen Piche
I’m so glad I called Precision for my annual AC checkup!! Austin was professional, super friendly and answered all my questions. I’ve had more bad experiences with AC companies here in the valley than good ones. Precision Air will have all my hvac business going forward!! Thanks for being a reputable and honest company!!!
Testimonials - Cara Perlman
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He did a great job; professional and knowledgeable! Kalin is the technician’s name and Precision Air and Plumbing should take a bow for hiring such an invaluable employee!!!
Testimonials - Jeff Stanczak
Jeff Stanczak
Precision Air is a company of integrity. I signed up with them August 1st, 2019 for their AC maintenance plan for 2 years... Someone from their office called me a week ago to set up their yearly maintenance visit. SO GRATEFUL.
Testimonials - Kingsley Evans
Kingsley Evans
Precision Air and Plumbing is a wonderful company to work with! They are very experienced and professional. They have helped us in our home for many years via a/c service and air duct cleaning.
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Andrew Burkhart
It was time to replace our AC, and so our choice was Precision Air, as we've been with them for over 20 years. Teman & Julian did an excellent job on the installation today, arriving on time.
Testimonials - David Topping
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