There is no doubt that the running of AC is a significant burden on your electricity bill. Unsurprisingly, the less you run your system the cheaper it will be but this just may not be possible during the hot summer months.

Simple measures such as heat blocking blinds and curtains could help to block out the heat making it easier for your AC to maintain comfortable temperatures. If it doesn’t need to work so hard it will use less energy, reducing your energy bills.

Smart thermostats that include climate control and eco modes will help to ensure your system is running as efficiently as possible. If you don’t have a smart thermostat you can still adjust your temperature regularly to ensure efficiency. Make sure fans are set to “auto” so that they shift to low or turn off entirely once comfortable temperatures are reached. During the hotter months increasing thermostats to around 25/26 when you are not at home will help to sustain humidity whilst minimising cost.

It is also important to have your AC regularly serviced to ensure that your system is running efficiently. Any broken parts, blocked filters etc could be causing inefficiencies that make your electricity bill skyrocket.

Yes, by their very nature air conditioners de-humidify the air. If you are experiencing high levels of humidity inside your home one of the first things you should do is to check that your AC system is running correctly. Inefficient AC can be a leading cause of high humidity levels. If the AC is running correctly and you are still experiencing high levels of humidity indoors, you may need to check for other issues in your property. For example, you may not have the correct seals on windows/doors, you could have cracks in the ceiling or other issues that are responsible.

During the cooler months, only turning your AC on only when needed makes sense. However, during the summer months turning your AC off when you leave the house could raise humidity levels and make it more difficult to reduce the heat again when you are back.

Smart thermostats that include climate control will help to automatically manage the system to ensure the AC is not wasting unnecessary energy but the humidity is still controlled. Make sure fans are set to “auto” so they shift to low or turn off completely once comfortable temperatures are reached. If you do not have a smart thermostat you can still adjust your temperature regularly to ensure efficiency. During the hotter months, instead of turning your system completely off when you leave the house, increase the thermostat to around 25/26 instead. This will help to control the humidity levels whilst also ensuring that you are not running up your energy bill.

If you are going out for an entire day, or even away for a weekend, there is nothing to stop you turning your AC off altogether. Provided that your AC system is well-maintained, your property should return to an ambient temperature quickly once you return home and switch the AC back on.

In the past, you may have been advised to leave your AC systems on while you’ve been away for a long period. This is because some people believed that doing so would reduce the potential damage caused by high humidity levels and moisture in the home particularly during the summer months.

However, we strongly recommend that you do not leave your AC system running when you are away on holiday. With no one checking your home any issues that may develop may not be picked up and you could find yourself returning home to a disaster zone. Blocked drains, gas leaks and electrical fires can all occur if AC systems are not regularly checked and these can cause untold damage to your home.

If you are going to be away from your home for a long period, having someone attend your home and run your AC system once per week will help to manage the humidity and avoid any major issues. If you are not able to have someone do this on your behalf it is far safer to leave your AC off than leave it running without being monitored.

The more your AC system is used (high running hours) the quicker parts may need to be replaced. A well-maintained unit will ensure you get the greatest lifespan from your system. Regular servicing means that parts are replaced early and the system is clean and efficient, thus avoiding any unnecessary pressure on key parts of your AC system that could result in expensive damage.

If you have large open spaces with multiple thermostats it may be more efficient to have all the units running (but set on auto to adjust to your desired temperature) rather than forcing one unit to cool a larger area than it was designed for.

Closed rooms that are not regularly in use, for example bedrooms, can be turned on only when in use.

The answer to this question really depends on your personal preference. Most people are happy with a temperature of around 21/22 degrees in summer during the day, dropping it down a few degrees at night to help them sleep better. During summer, setting the temperature around 25/26 degrees when you are out of the house will keep the humidity at bay whilst minimising expense.

Ceiling fans do not directly impact the efficiency of your AC system. However, they can make rooms feel more pleasant by providing a breeze. As such, having a ceiling fan may make you feel more comfortable at temperatures slightly higher, allowing you to set your AC general temperature higher. Remember, ultimately a ceiling fan is simply shifting the existing air around a room, rather than cooling the air.