How to Reduce AC Power Consumption in Cumming, GA: 15 Tips That Work

When someone asks how to lower their AC bill, I ask back: how much do you want to do? Here is everything that works, from free to bigger projects, based on what I see in homes across Cumming, Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell and Johns Creek.

Free, this week

• 1. Thermostat at 76 to 78 when home. Each degree cooler adds run time. Most people stop noticing within a few days.
• 2. Ceiling fans, used right. Fans cool people, not rooms. Run them counterclockwise in summer and turn them off when you leave the room.
• 3. A clean filter. If no light passes through it, change it.
• 4. Blinds and curtains. Close them on west- and south-facing windows in the afternoon.
• 5. Open vents. Move furniture and rugs off supply registers and returns.
• 6. Run heat-making appliances in the evening. The oven, dryer and dishwasher add heat the AC must remove.

Small investments

• 7. A smart thermostat with a schedule, set warmer while you are away.
• 8. Seal air leaks at the attic stairs, recessed lights, pipe and wire penetrations and old window frames.
• 9. Attic insulation. Many older homes here have far less than today's recommended levels.
• 10. Shade. Shade on west windows and on the outdoor unit helps, as long as plants stay a few feet back from the unit.

Bigger projects, when they make sense

• 11. Seal or repair ducts in the attic or crawlspace.
• 12. Two-stage or variable-speed equipment at replacement time. It runs longer at low speed, uses less power and pulls more moisture out.
• 13. Right-size the system. An oversized system short-cycles and leaves the house clammy.
• 14. Consider a heat pump if you are replacing the AC and furnace together. See our heat pump guide.
• 15. Yearly maintenance. A clean coil, correct charge and healthy electrical parts keep the system running at its rated efficiency. A tune-up is $135; the plan is $229 a year ($189 the first year) for spring and fall visits.

What does not work

• Plug-in "energy saver" boxes. Nothing plugged into a wall outlet reduces your AC's power use.
• Closing lots of vents. It upsets airflow rather than saving money.
• Adding window units next to central air. It usually raises total use; balancing airflow is the better fix.
• Turning the AC off and on all day. Set it warmer instead.

Cumming-specific tips

• Pollen season: rinse the outdoor coil gently every few weeks from March to May.
• Near Lake Lanier: humidity is higher, so longer, slower run cycles matter more.
• Newer subdivisions: we often find undersized returns and leaky attic ducts. They are usually fixable without replacing equipment.

Questions we hear