With the first 100-degree day of 2018 expected Tuesday in Las Vegas air conditioning repair crews are ramping up for a busy week.
Jake Lyon with Yes! Air Conditioning & Plumbing said they started getting calls from homeowners who were having AC problems over the past few days.
Lyon said it is normal and the biggest problems they run into during the early season calls are related to poor maintenance that makes the air conditioning units run harder.
"Your system has to breathe just like we do. So it is the equivalent of running down the street breathing through a straw," Lyon said.
The simplest fix for homeowners is to change your filter.
While some filters advertise 60, 90 or even 120 replacement options, Lyon said in the desert that isn't realistic because of all the dust in the air.
"It can be an inexpensive filter as long as it is being changed every thirty days," Lyon said.
The Department of Energy says changing your air filter can save between 5 and 15 percent on electric bills.
FOR MORE TIPS ON SAVING MONEY IN THE HEAT
In Las Vegas, where NV Energy estimates the average single-family home's bill at $136.29, that adds up to between $6.81 and $20.44 a month.
Using ceiling fans can also help reduce your reliance on the air conditioner by moving air around your home.
"Typically always keep your doors open. Cycle your fans on," Lyon said. "That is going to keep the temperatures the most even."
Estimates say you could keep your thermostat 4 degrees higher to get the same results. With each degree estimated to save six percent, the average savings in Las Vegas comes out to $32.71.
Finally, a programmable thermostat will help cut power bills by around 10 percent, or $13.63 on average.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO COOL OFF OUTSIDE YOUR HOME AS WELL
Of course, if you don't have one it may take a little work to install on your own.
All told, the three changes could shave more than $50 off your electric bill each month.
