The Average Monthly Cost of Central Air Central air conditioning has increasingly become a standard amenity in American homes since it become popular in the mid-20th century, and with good reason. Cool air makes it difficult for allergens such as mold and dust mites to thrive, and it provides respite from warm outdoor weather. With excessive use, however, it can contribute significantly to energy costs each month. A standard air conditioning system uses about 3,500 watts, according to the Otter Tail Power Company of Minnesota. At a usage of 860 hours during the cooling season, or summer, that's just over 1,000 kilowatt-hours of usage per month. This translates to a monthly cost of about $116 as of 2011. Otter Tail bases its figures on a 2.5-ton air conditioning unit, which is suitable for a home up to 1,200 sq. ft. If your home is larger than 1,200 sq. ft., your monthly cost for air conditioning may be higher. If it's smaller than 1,000 sq. ft., it may be lower; it largely depends on how much you use air conditioning.

If the temperature is moderate year-round where you live, you may use it less than Otter Tail estimates. Central Air vs. Ceiling Fans Ceiling fans and portable fans use between 65 and 250 watts, which is, at most, 7 percent of the wattage an air conditioner requires. If you left a fan on 24 hours a day for three months, it would only cost you $16 to $63 total. The major drawback is that a fan doesn't chill air as a central air conditioner does. Getting the Most Valuewindow ac units at target For the most value, money management software company Money Allocator suggests setting the thermostat no lower than 78 degrees. gree split air conditioner installationTurn on a fan to circulate air throughout the room, and you can keep your home at a relatively comfortable temperature.used ac units sale

Otter Tail Power Company: Appliance Energy Usage U.S. Department of Energy: Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use U.S. Energy Information Administration; Tips for Buying an Air Conditioner; U.S. Department of Energy; Central Air Vs. Air Conditioners Parts of a Central Air Conditioner The Average Cost for a HVAC System How to Calculate Costs of Converting House to Central Heat and Air The Average Cost of a Home Air Conditioning Unit What Is the Most Efficient Way to Run Your Central Air?Avg. cost per kWh: $0.17 Avg. cost per month: $23.14 when running 8 hours per day. For peak efficiency, always keep a window open when you're using an evaporative cooler. Don't run an air conditioner and an evaporative cooler at the same time! You'll make your air conditioner work twice as hard to get rid of the humidity produced by the cooler. Also, clean and replace filters frequently to get the most cooling for your money. Avg. cost per kWh: $0.17 Avg. cost per month: $13.27 when running 30 days per month.

Frost in your freezer that's more then 1/4" thick acts as an insulator and forces your freezer to work harder and use more electricity. While auto-defrost freezers take care of themselves, they often use more energy. If you have an extra freezer that you really don't need,why spend money using it? Avg. cost per kWh: $0.17 Avg. cost per month: $11.67 when running 30 days per month. Dirty coils on the back or bottom of your fridge can make it work harder than necessary.Check and clean the coils regularly, especially during the summer. Also make sure your refrigerator and freezer doors seal airtight. One way to check this is to close a dollar bill or piece of paper in the door. If it pulls out easily, your refrigerator may need a door hinge adjustment or a new gasket. Avg. cost per kWh: $0.17 Avg. cost per month: $6.62 when running 18 cycles per month. You'll use less energy and water cleaning your dishes with a dishwasher than washing by hand. Run your dishwasher only when full, and use your dishwasher's automatic energy-savings cool-dry cycle.

If your dishwasher doesn't have this feature, turn it off after the final rinse and let the dishes air dry. This can reduce energy usage by 40%. Avg. cost per kWh: $0.17 Avg. cost per month: $7.23 when running 45 minutes per day. Foods cook faster at a lower temperature if you use pots and pans with flat bottoms and tight-fitting lids. Pans that are bigger or smaller than the heating coil waste energy. You can also save money by using microwave and toaster ovens, slow cookers and electric skillets instead of larger ovens and stoves. Avg. cost per kWh: $0.17 Avg. cost per month: $13.24 when running 8 hours per day. Did you know that a 60-inch plasma TV could cost up to $130 per year if it is on 5 hours per day, at $.12 per kWh? Compare that to an old 28-inch CRT (cathode-ray tube) TV that costs about $30 per year when it is on 5 hours per day at the same price. Add on a DVD player, game console or home theater system, and the annual bill for the plasma TV can go up to $200 per year.

Avg. cost per kWh: $0.17 Avg. cost per month: $22.95 when running 3 hours per day. A portable heater is a great way to make a small room more comfortable. Remember to turn it off when you leave the room. Choose a heater that's been certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory and that has a tip-over switch. Make sure your heater is at least three feet away from curtains, chairs, firewood, walls and anything else that can catch fire. Don't use an extension cord unless absolutely necessary. If you must use an extension cord, make sure it's marked with a power rating at least as high as your heater. Keep children and pets away from heaters. Avg. cost per kWh: $0.17 Avg. cost per month: $13.73 when running 34 loads per month. An overloaded or under-loaded dryer can make it more expensive to dry your clothes. Dry lightweight and heavy clothes separately for more energy-efficient drying. Always clean the lint filter before every load. Remember to dry full loads without overloading, and you'll use less electricity.

Avg. cost per kWh: $0.17 Avg. cost per month: $80.46 when running 4 hours per day. Set your air conditioner to 78° or warmer with the thermostat fan switch on "auto." For additional savings, raise your thermostat to 82° or warmer when you're away from home. Did you know you'll get more out of your A/C by regularly cleaning or replacing your air conditioner's filter? Closing drapes and shades keeps direct sunlight from heating your home and lowers cooling costs. Or instead of relying on your air conditioner, use a portable or ceiling fan to circulate air. It uses less energy and costs less money. Avg. cost per kWh: $0.17 Avg. cost per month: $36.83 when running 6 hours per day. Letting your pool pump run longer than 4 to 6 hours per day won't significantly improve the cleanliness of the water, but it will significantly run up your electricity bill.Try setting it between 4 and no more than 6 hours. Also, an older power-hungry single-speed model may be costing you more money. Save even more with a two-speed or variable-speed pool pump.