Cooling can account for half or more of a West Texas home’s summer electricity use. You don’t have to suffer to spend less — a handful of small changes add up, and a couple of them are completely free. Start at the top of this list.
These are ordered roughly from free-and-immediate to bigger-investment. You can do the first four this afternoon.
1. Nudge the thermostat up
Every degree matters. Setting the thermostat a few degrees higher — and letting it drift higher still when no one’s home — meaningfully cuts run time. The smaller the gap between indoor and the brutal outdoor temperature, the less your system has to fight. A few degrees you barely notice can show up clearly on the bill.
2. Let a smart thermostat do the work
A programmable or smart thermostat captures those savings automatically — easing off while you’re at work and cooling back down before you’re home, so you never feel it. The catch is they have to be compatible and wired correctly to work reliably; a botched install causes more headaches than it saves. (Here’s how a proper thermostat install handles that.)
3. Keep the filter clean
A dirty filter forces your system to work harder for the same cooling, burning extra energy every hour it runs. In Abilene’s dust, check it monthly and change it when it’s dirty. It’s the cheapest efficiency upgrade there is — and it protects the system from bigger problems.
4. Run ceiling fans the right way
Fans cool people, not rooms — the breeze makes you feel several degrees cooler, which lets you raise the thermostat without losing comfort. Make sure they spin counterclockwise in summer to push air down. Just turn them off when you leave the room; running them in an empty room only adds heat from the motor.
5. Block the afternoon sun
West- and south-facing windows pour heat into your home during the worst part of a West Texas afternoon. Close blinds or curtains on the sunny side, and consider cellular shades or reflective film on the worst offenders. Keeping that radiant heat out is heat your AC never has to remove.
6. Seal leaks and add shade
Cool air leaking out — and hot attic air leaking in — is money gone. Weatherstrip doors, caulk obvious gaps, and make sure attic insulation is adequate, since a hot attic radiates into the rooms below. Outside, a shrub or tree shading the condenser (without crowding its airflow) helps it shed heat more easily.
7. Time your heat-makers
Ovens, stoves, and dryers dump heat your AC then has to remove. On the hottest days, cook earlier or later, grill outside, and run the dryer and dishwasher in the evening. Small habit, real difference during a heat wave.
8. Keep the system tuned
An air conditioner that’s low on refrigerant, has a dirty coil, or a weak capacitor runs longer and harder to deliver the same cooling — quietly inflating your bill all summer. A seasonal tune-up keeps efficiency where it should be. The $165 Comfort Plan covers it twice a year, which usually pays for itself in efficiency and avoided breakdowns.
9. Know when an upgrade pays
If your system is old and your bills climb every year despite doing everything above, the equipment itself may be the problem. Older, lower-efficiency systems — especially oversized ones that short-cycle — cost more to run every month. A modern, properly sized system can cut cooling costs noticeably. It’s worth weighing against the cost of limping the old one along — the same repair-versus-replace math we cover elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should I set my AC to in the summer in Texas?
The higher you can comfortably go, the less you spend — many people land in the high 70s while home and let it drift warmer when away. Every degree closer to the outdoor temperature cuts run time. A smart thermostat captures the savings automatically.
Does closing vents in unused rooms save energy?
Usually not. Closing vents raises pressure in the ductwork and makes the system work harder, which can cost more and strain the equipment. It’s better to let air move freely and use the thermostat and fans to manage comfort.
Want a more efficient system?
A tune-up or a right-sized upgrade can cut your summer bills. Talk to a local Abilene team about the smartest move for your home.
