When your electricity bill jumps, it’s easy to point the finger at your air conditioner. Especially in the middle of a brutal summer, when your AC has been working overtime to keep your home comfortable.
Luckily, there are a few ways to figure out if you’re running your system too hard or using too much electricity as you cool your home.
Much like our judicial system, your system is innocent until proven guilty. Before you put your HVAC on trial, there are a few suspects to consider when trying to solve the mystery of the expensive electricity bill.
The First Suspect: The HVAC System
Let’s start with the obvious one. Your air conditioner has probably been working overtime all summer. When outdoor temperatures climb, your system has to work harder and run longer to keep your home comfortable.
That alone can increase your electricity usage.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to help your system run at peak efficiency. It may already be running hard, but dirty air filters, dusty outdoor coils, leaky ducts, or aging equipment can make the system work even harder.
Ensuring you’re changing that filter regularly, checking for leaks, and gently rinsing the outdoor coil with a garden hose to remove dirt and grass clippings (Don’t use a pressure washer: it could bend the delicate fins) are all great ways to keep everything running well on the homeowner side.
The Second Suspect: A Change in Electricity Rates
We live in a turbulent economic world. Prices are rising across the board: and electricity is no stranger to changing fees and rates. This could change the final amount that is owed at the end of the month.
It’s best to compare actual electricity usage, usually measured in kilowatt-hours, rather than just comparing the dollar amount from bill-to-bill.
If you used roughly the same amount, but the bill is far larger, your utility rate or other charges could be part of the story.
The Third Suspect: Changes in Habits.
The third suspect is a surprisingly simple one: Maybe it was a change in electricity habits for a specific month. Maybe you spent more time cooking, running the dryer, or forgot to turn off lights several days in a row.
It also worth considering ‘phantom load.’ It’s also referred to as standby power and is the power many electronics continue to draw even when they appear to be turned off.
One TV probably isn’t going to make your electric bill explode, but add a gaming console, computer, speakers, chargers, and other electronics that stay plugged in 24/7, and those little draws start adding up fast, sipping up power and bringing that bill a little higher than usual.
The Fourth Suspect: The Water Heater
Electric water heaters can sneak up on you. More showers, more laundry, and more dishes can increase the energy consumption.
Meaning: a house full of guests, extra showers, or a mountain of sweaty summer clothes can all increase hot water usage.
If your household’s hot water usage increased, your water heater could be contributing to that higher bill.
The Fifth Suspect: Your House
Sometimes the problem doesn’t directly use an excess amount of electricity, but does sap it away, meaning your house itself could be the culprit.
Think of it this way: Your HVAC system can be doing everything right, but if cooled air is escaping through leaky ductwork or heat is sneaking in through poorly insulated windows or doors, your system has to work longer to maintain the temperature you set.
So: Is Your HVAC To Blame?
Maybe. Here are a few signs that your system deserves a closer look:
- Your system is running much longer than it used to
- Your home is not reaching the temperature on the thermostat
- Some rooms are noticeably warmer or cooler than others
- Airflow from your vents seems weak
- You hear unusual noises coming from the system
- Your energy usage increased along with changes in your HVAC’s performance
- Your system is turning off and on more frequently than normal
If your electricity bill went up, but everything else about your HVAC system seems normal, there may be another explanation.
The important thing is to not assume.
A Higher Bill Does NOT Mean a Broken AC
Your electricity bill can act like a check-engine light in a car, and much like a check-engine light, it doesn’t tell you exactly what the problem is.
The point is: There are many reasons for your bills going up. The good news is you don’t have to guess.
If your energy usage has climbed and your HVAC system is showing signs it’s working harder than it should, it may be time to have a professional take a look.
The mystery may not be as exciting as a pulpy detective novel: but figuring out where your energy is going can save you money and help you catch small HVAC problems before they become much bigger ones.
So the next time your electricity bill makes you wonder why, remember: an HVAC system is innocent until proven guilty.
