90% of American households have an air conditioning system, the New York Times notes. The cost of running one, though, tends to be much higher than using a fan. If you've always wondered why your AC bills are much higher, let’s run some numbers. 

Calculate the Cost

If you own a window AC unit that runs on 1.2 kilowatts, that costs you about 14 cents an hour to run. If you have a common cooling system that runs on about 3 kilowatts, that costs about 36 cents an hour when you run it. When it comes to a ceiling fan, though, that only uses up about 30 watts to run, which means a charge of about 1 cent for every three hours that you use it. That’s how huge the disparity is between the two, 20 Something Finance says. 

Factors to Consider

There are other factors that affect the cost of your AC bills. For instance, the type of AC you choose also has a drastic impact on your bills, along with how often you run the unit, and whether or not your air conditioning system is energy-efficient or not. If you want to start finding ways to save up on costs but don’t want to switch to a fan, then you can explore a lot of options. 

Change Your Setup

One way to reduce the costs of running your AC is to modify your setup. If you’re still using an AC system that’s about twenty years old or even older, then that’s probably one of the reasons why you have high consumption costs. Toss that with a new one. Pick an energy-efficient unit, and you’ll start seeing a marked change in your AC expenses. 

Perform Repairs 

Another reason it costs so much to run AC systems is because of delayed repairs. When you start seeing signs that your air conditioning is in trouble, get in touch with a trusted service center or crew for AC repair in Gilbert. The sooner a professional technician can assess your system, the sooner the damage can be fixed. That keeps the issue from worsening and snowballing into a bigger and costlier series of problems. 

Pay for Maintenance  

Costly repairs can be prevented, too, if you pay for regular maintenance. The idea that you’ll need to get in touch with an AC service team every few months, though, sounds a bit tedious. Make it more convenient by opting for an arrangement. Many service companies provide maintenance programs and plans. Check them out. Figure out the best options that fit your needs and budget. 

Do Your Homework 

Hiring companies with unethical practices will only cost you more. Find trusted contractors to ensure that you don’t pay more than you should. With a credible repair company, you won’t need to worry that your bill is getting padded or that you’re paying for bogus charges. You can look forward to speedy repairs and excellent customer service. That’s why it pays to take your time in choosing the right AC service company.