Is The Aircon Still On? Avoid Bill Shock With These Tips

(SPOT.ph) As the country continues to sizzle in the summer heat, you may be seeking refuge in your airconditioned room for longer hours. But beating the heat costs more, and you may expect your electricity bill to rise along with the mercury.

But there are ways to avoid electricity bill shock and keep your head cool when it’s time for Judith—okay, due date—to come around.

Here are some tips for using your aircon more efficiently, according to Meralco. (They're AC enough to follow.)

Also read: What Do Red and Yellow Alerts Mean for Electricity Grids?

1. Get the right-sized AC unit: not too big, not too small.

Having the correctly sized AC is key. Oversized units waste energy, while undersized ones struggle to keep up. Having the incorrect aircon size will use up between 35% and 110% more to cool a room, and this translates to more expense.  

“An air conditioner that’s not the right size for your space can cost you up to an additional P965 per month,” according to Meralco, based on its test.

You may refer to this guide below to check if your unit is sufficient or too big for your room.

2. Keep the cool In

Don't let precious cool air escape! Seal up those pesky gaps around windows and doors to keep your space comfortably chilled without overworking your AC. As Meralco said: “ A building with less insulation will allow more heat and solar irradiation to penetrate, forcing systems like air conditioning units or even refrigerators to require more power to keep cool.” 

3. Crowd control: Factor in how many seople share a room.

They say the more, the merrier. But more also means hotter. Remember, the number of people in a room affects its temperature due to the accumulation of body heat. Adjust your AC settings accordingly when there are more people in a room.

4. Chill, but not too much: Set smart temperatures.

We all love a cool breeze, but cranking the AC too low can burn through energy. Meralco recommends a crisp 25°C for optimum cooling without freezing your budget. Going lower may cause your AC to overwork, “forcing it to draw more power, increasing its energy consumption,” Meralco said.

5. Clean your AC filter once a month.

Your AC deserves lots of love as it works hard to keep you cool. Remember to give it some TLC and clean its filters monthly. It's an easy way to keep things running smoothly and save on energy bills—plus, it'll help your AC last longer!

“A perfectly maintained machine that runs smoothly won’t need as much energy to do its job,” Meralco said.

We’re in this together. With these tips, we hope you’ll learn how to use your ACs, your summer bestfriend, more efficiently. And as we face more weeks of hotter weather, let’s pray that your next electricity bill won’t set your wallet—and your mood—on fire.

Also read: PAGASA Warns Some Areas Could Reach 52°C Heat Index