4 Essential Things to Do Before Turning On Your AC for Summer
Every summer, I run my AC for 3 months straight, yet my electricity bill is one-third lower than last year.
It’s not because I have a fancy AC unit—it’s because I follow a ‘pre-summer AC checklist.’ Get these right, and you’ll save money while avoiding ‘AC sickness.’
Task 1: Deep Cleaning (Essential!)
Many people think cleaning an AC means wiping the shell and washing the filter. Not enough.
The dirtiest parts are the coils and evaporator—where mold and dust mites breed, blowing straight into your lungs when you turn it on.
My approach:
- DIY filter cleaning: Open the panel, remove filters, scrub with soft brush + mild detergent, air dry (don’t sun-dry—they’ll warp).
- Spray cleaner: Buy AC cleaner spray ($3), spray on coils, wait 15 minutes, run cooling mode to drain dirty water.
- Professional cleaning: If your AC hasn’t been deep-cleaned in 3+ years, hire pros ($15-25). They disassemble and clean evaporators and blower wheels.
⚠️ Real talk: After cleaning, cooling efficiency jumps at least 20%. That saves electricity.
Task 2: Check Filters (Don’t Skip)
If you can’t monthly-clean filters, at least check them biweekly.
Clogged filters make your AC work harder to push air, spiking power consumption. I clean mine on the 1st of every month—habit makes it effortless.
Pro tip: Put a sticky note on the AC: ‘1st of month.’ Hard to forget.
Task 3: Temperature Settings Matter
Many people habitually set 26°C (79°F). Not optimal.
My settings:
- Daytime at home: 27°C + fan. AC cools, fan circulates—same comfort, 30% less power.
- Sleeping: Sleep mode, auto-rising from 26°C to 28°C. Won’t freeze you awake at 3am, saves power.
- Just got home: Don’t blast 16°C! Start at 24°C, then adjust to 27°C once cooled. Jumping to 16°C maxes out the compressor—expensive and hard on the unit.
Task 4: Usage Habits Determine Your Bill
Power-saving tricks:
1. Point vents up
Cool air sinks. Vents up = faster whole-room cooling.
2. Don’t toggle on/off
‘Hot, on—cold, off’ is expensive. Startup current is 5-7x normal running current. Let it maintain low-frequency operation instead.
3. Close doors/windows, draw curtains
Direct sunlight raises room temp 2-3°C. Draw blackout curtains by day, AC doesn’t work as hard.
4. Ventilate regularly
Stale air builds up. I open windows 10 minutes every 3 hours, or crack a window for continuous airflow.
Bonus Money-Saver: Time-of-Use Rates
If your area has peak/off-peak pricing (cheaper after 10pm), schedule washing machines and water heaters for nighttime. Saves a few bucks monthly.
Final Thoughts
AC is summer’s biggest power user, but with the right approach, bills are controllable.
Core principles: Keep it clean (efficiency), set smart (reduce waste), build good habits (avoid mistakes).
None of this is hard—execution is. Bookmark this and review it every summer before firing up the AC.