Running the air conditioning can make an electricity bill skyrocket, but the alternative isn't very pretty, either. Luckily, there are a few ways that you can help your air conditioner run better and save you money as the summer months progress. 1. Quit cooling the neighborhoodIf your home isn't brand new, the cold air inside it is probably seeping out into the neighborhood through worn door and window seals, a poorly insulated attic and other sneaky cracks. To see how well your home is holding in the cold, sign up for a home energy audit with your utility provider or a local contractor. A certified home energy rater or auditor will check your home for leaks and recommend the best way to make your home more energy efficient.Don't want to spring for an audit? Do a mini-audit yourself. Stand outside your home and run your hand along windows and doors. Can you feel the cold air escaping? If you do, caulk around leaky windows and add insulation around doors. 2. Make sure your thermostat is on the right wallThermostat placement can play a big part in how well your air conditioner works.

If you put it on a wall right next to a hot window, for instance, your air conditioner will kick on much more often than it needs to because it will think the room is hotter than it actually is. Here's how to pick the perfect wall for your thermostat. 3. Close the blindsA window letting in the hot sun won't just heat up your thermostat, it'll heat you up too. During the warmest part of the day, close your window blinds. Closing the blinds keeps out the sun. It can also help insulate your windows, which stops the cold air from escaping.4. Use a fanSometimes you don't need to amp up the thermostat to feel cooler. According to the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), using a ceiling fan can make a room feel 10 degrees cooler and uses 10 percent of the energy of a central air conditioner.If you want to get high-tech, you can install smart ceiling fans that connect to an app. You can schedule the times when these fans turn on and off, and you can control their speed without standing on your tiptoes.5.

Up the temprature Many people think that leaving the air conditioner at the same temperature when you leave the house saves money because the AC won't need to work as hard to re-cool the home. the best ac unit to buyThis is a myth. need new ac unitNRDC senior energy policy advocate Lauren Urbanek says that the most inexpensive way to use your air conditioner is to turn the thermostat up when you leave the house. best outdoor ac unitAir conditioning systems operate most efficiently at full speed during longer periods of time. So kicking it on a lower temperature when you get home will save you more money than the AC cycling on and off while you're away. A programmable thermostat can make it super easy to keep your AC at the right temperature. You can program the unit to work at higher temperatures while you're at work and cool down right before you get home.6.

Setting low is a no-goAlways set your thermostat to the highest temperature you can stand to save the most money. Even a little change in the temperature can save you big bucks. You can save 10 percent a year on your cooling bills by setting your thermostat just 10 to 15 degrees higher for eight hours each day, according to the Nebraska Energy Office. The US Department of Energy recommends aiming for an indoor temperature of 78 degrees F when you're at home.How do you add Freon to a window air conditioner? Adding Freon to a window air conditioner involves cleaning the air conditioner, attaching a new Freon container and allowing it to intake new Freon until the container is drained. While this task is usually performed by a refrigeration mechanic, a lay person can complete it by purchasing a Freon kit. How much Freon does a five-ton unit hold? How do I know if my air conditioner needs Freon? Gloves and protective eye wear should be worn when adding Freon to an air conditioner.

Refer to the air conditioning unit's user’s manual to ensure that the right type of coolant is used. After taking the air conditioner out of the window, lay it on a level surface near running water. Clear any dust or dirt from the coils, the louvers or shutters and the air filter. Give these parts time to dry before putting the unit back in place. Do not switch on the power. Upon finding the air conditioner's compressor, remove both valves from the Freon kit. Follow the kit's instructions as to how to attach these valves to the lines of the compressor, and take out the Freon container. Attach it to the valves, turn the unit on, and set the power to the highest level. This setting allows the air conditioner to draw the Freon into its coils. Observe the unit for cooling temperatures. Once all of the Freon is drained from the container, turn the air conditioner off, unplug it, and remove the Freon container. After closing off the compressor's main lines, it is safe to resume use of the unit.

Do window air conditioners need Freon? Most window air conditioners do require Freon in order for them to work properly. There is a type of Freon referred to as R-22 or HCFC-22, and it was most ... How much Freon does my truck need? Most vehicles need 25 to 35 pounds per square inch of Freon on the low side if the vehicle is running with the air conditioner on its coldest setting and f... Car Parts & Maintenance How much Freon does a 3-ton air conditioning unit hold? A 3-ton air conditioning unit can hold 6 to 12 pounds of Freon, depending on the unit. The exact amount of Freon needed is determined by a variety of facto... What is an air conditioner coil? An air conditioner coil is the part that turns a liquid chemical such as Freon into a gas and absorbs heat while creating cool air. The coil functions as a... What are some tips for fixing a car's air conditioning? Why does air expand with heat? Where can you find replacement parts for a Country stove?