Summer's just around the corner — and there's a lot to love about that fact. We're talking sunshine, cookouts, and vacation. Unfortunately, summer also means your AC bill is about to skyrocket.

If this warm winter was any indication, this upcoming summer is going to be a scorcher. You can expect your AC bill to spike as you attempt to keep cool from the blazing heat.

So, you have two choices to stay comfortable:  get ripped off or get smart. Read on to learn some tips to take the sting out of the AC bill.

7 Tips to Trim Your AC Bills

1) Close the blinds

This tip is simple, yet effective. You may have heard this before, but the sun's rays are hot — so don't let them heat your house during the summer. Keeping your blinds closed during the day blocks out sunlight and keeps your house cooler.

If you don't want to spend all day with the shades drawn, you can just close your blinds when you head to work and open them when you get home. Either way, you do it, you'll appreciate the savings.

2) Open the windows at night — if the air quality is good

Summer nights might never be completely cool, but they do get at least a little bit cooler. Opening your windows at night can help cool down your whole home naturally and for free.

open the windows to cut ac bills

While enjoying a gentle summer breeze sounds great, be selective about it. Outdoor pollen can aggravate the allergies and asthma of people with respiratory conditions. In fact, for some sufferers, opening the windows during spring or summer is a no-go — regardless of the nice weather.

Learn more about spring allergies.

3) Cook outside whenever possible

Cookouts are one of the things people love most about summer — plus it can save you money on your AC bills.

cook outside to cut ac bills

Cooking a large meal requires a lot of energy and generates a lot of heat inside your home. That heat sticks around causing your AC to work even harder. So take advantage of the summertime and grill outside as often as you can.

4) Get an AC tuneup

Since these tips center on reducing your AC bill, it's time to feature the AC system itself.

One of the most important things you can do to reduce your AC bill is to ensure that your AC system is working as efficiently as possible. However, ordinary wear & tear renders your system wasteful to operate — not to mention costly.

get a tuneup to trim your ac bills

During a One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning AC tuneup, an expert HVAC tech will restore your system to maximum efficiency. We always recommend AC tuneups to budget-conscious homeowners.

Contact us for more information about AC tuneups.

5) Use your ceiling fan

For more than 100 years of American history, ceiling fans were the premier way to keep cool.

While ceiling fans don't actually cool the air, they make you feel cooler — which is just as good and a whole lot cheaper.

So if you have a ceiling fan, be sure to use it and you'll be able to spend less on your AC bill all summer long.

6) Exercise at the gym — not outside

If exercise is your thing, the heat won't get in your way. During the summer though, you're better exercising in your local air-conditioned gym. Not only is it safer and more comfortable, but you'll also be less tempted to plunge your own personal AC to frigid temperatures to cool down after a workout.

excercise inside to trim ac bills

Why not let the gym be the one to foot the bill for the AC, right?

7) Install a Wi-Fi enabled thermostat

Using your AC more efficiently is one of the number one ways you can save. That brings us to the last tip on our list: check out a Wi-Fi enabled thermostat.

Wi-Fi enabled thermostats allow you to control your home temperature from anywhere in the world. That means you'll never have to pay to cool an empty house again.

wi-fi thermostat to cut your ac bills

When you leave for work in the morning or head out for dinner, give the AC a rest by using your Wi-Fi enabled thermostat. When you're on your way home, kick the AC into high gear and be cool as soon you get home.

Never sacrificing comfort, yet still enjoying energy bill savings every month? Sounds like a win-win to us.

One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Southeast Pennsylvania for Lower AC Bills

At One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Southeast Pennsylvania, we're all about giving you the solutions to save.

Whether you need some DIY tips, lifestyle insights, or professional support, you can count on us to lower your AC bills this summer.

If you want to schedule an AC tuneup or install a Wi-Fi thermostat, contact us today.