Austin · Energy
Lowering a summer energy bill in Austin
June 2026 · 5 min read
Austin summer bills climb for boring reasons: leaking ducts, a dirty coil, a hot attic, and a thermostat fighting the afternoon sun. Almost all of it is maintenance rather than equipment.
Fix the losses first
Before considering new equipment, close the holes the current system is losing through.
- Seal duct joints in the attic, where leakage of 20 percent or more is common.
- Wash the outdoor condenser coil and keep two feet of clearance around it.
- Change filters monthly during cooling season.
- Weatherstrip exterior doors and seal the attic hatch.
Use the thermostat strategically
Deep setbacks do not work well in Austin, because the system cannot recover against a 105-degree afternoon and it runs at peak rates trying.
- Pre-cool in the morning, then hold a slightly higher setpoint through the afternoon peak.
- Keep the fan on auto rather than on, so humidity does not re-evaporate off the coil.
- Two to three degrees warmer is worth real money over a full season.
Shading and glass
West-facing glass drives afternoon load more than most homeowners expect. Exterior shades, solar screens, or well-placed planting cut the gain before it enters, which is far more effective than treating it after.
Questions we get
- What temperature should I set my thermostat in Austin summer?
- Most households land between 76 and 78 during the day. The bigger savings usually come from sealing ducts and shading west windows rather than suffering an extra degree.
- Are attic fans worth it?
- Only with sufficient soffit intake. Without it, a powered fan pulls conditioned air out of the living space through ceiling gaps and costs you money.
- Should I replace an older but working AC?
- Not on age alone. Fix duct leakage and airflow first, then reassess. Those repairs sometimes deliver most of the improvement a new system would.
Rather not track all this?
Well Kept Home members get this work scheduled through the year by the same Austin crew, with written notes and photos after every visit.