Summer in Denver is no joke. With average July highs nearing 90°F and unpredictable heat waves rolling off the Front Range, keeping your home cool and comfortable can come at a steep energy cost. Fortunately, there are smart and affordable ways to reduce your summer energy bills—without sacrificing comfort.
At Precision Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric, we’ve helped thousands of Denver-area homeowners stay cool while saving money. Here are our top seven ways to lower your energy use during peak summer heat.
1. Give Your AC the Tune-Up It Deserves
Your air conditioner works overtime during a Denver summer—and if it’s not in top shape, your utility bills will reflect it.
A professional AC tune-up helps your system run more efficiently, saving energy and extending its lifespan. Our techs will:
- Clean the coils
- Check refrigerant levels
- Inspect electrical components
- Lubricate moving parts
- Replace dirty filters
- Spot small issues before they become big breakdowns
Pro Tip for Denver homes: Air conditioners here often sit dormant for long winters. Spring and early summer tune-ups are essential for ensuring everything kicks on smoothly and operates at peak performance when the heat hits. If you missed this window, you can still benefit by getting a tune-up during the summer.
2. Adjust Your Thermostat Strategically
Small changes to your thermostat settings can make a big difference—especially during the hottest times of the day.
Here’s how to manage your thermostat for energy savings:
- Set it to 75-78°F when you’re home and awake.
- Raise it to 85°F or higher when you’re away for work or running errands.
- Use a smart or programmable thermostat to automate these changes and avoid accidental overuse.
In Denver, where we often get cool nights even during summer, you can use natural cooling by opening windows in the early morning or evening—then shut them before the temperature spikes.
3. Make the Most of Ceiling and Box Fans
Fans don’t cool the air, but they do make you feel cooler by creating a breeze that helps sweat evaporate from your skin. This means you can comfortably raise the thermostat a few degrees and still feel fine.
- Ceiling fans should spin counterclockwise in the summer to push air downward and apply wind chill to the room.
- Portable fans can help move cooled air from your AC around your home.
- Even whole-house fans, popular in some Denver homes, can pull in cool night air and expel hot indoor air—reducing your AC usage.
Best of all, fans use far less energy than air conditioning, so they’re a great companion to any cooling strategy.
4. Seal, Insulate, and Weatherproof
If your home isn’t properly sealed or insulated, you’re wasting money every time the AC runs.
Here are the most common culprits:
- Gaps and cracks around windows, doors, and baseboards
- Leaky attic access panels or pull-down stairs
- Poor duct insulation in unconditioned spaces like basements or crawl spaces
- Missing or old weather stripping
Don’t forget: Colorado’s dry climate means hot air can be sneaky—taking advantage of even the smallest opening.
5. Block Out the Sun
Sunlight pouring through your windows isn’t just lighting up your home—it’s heating it too. And during a Denver summer, that’s a lot of extra work for your AC.
Here are a few simple ways to reduce solar heat gain:
- Close curtains or blinds on east- and west-facing windows during the hottest parts of the day.
- Install blackout or reflective window treatments to block or bounce sunlight.
- Consider shading solutions like awnings or UV window film to intercept sunlight before it reaches the glass.
- Add strategically placed trees or shrubs around windows for long-term natural shade.
Bonus: Blocking sunlight not only reduces heat, it protects your furniture and floors from fading.
6. Use Appliances Efficiently (and Sparingly)
Your oven, dishwasher, dryer, and even refrigerator coils can all add heat to your home. During the summer, be mindful of when and how you use them.
Try this:
- Cook outside on a grill instead of using the oven.
- Run appliances at night or early morning to avoid peak heat.
- Wash clothes in cold water and line-dry whenever possible.
- Unplug electronics and chargers when not in use to eliminate “phantom” energy loads.
In Denver, energy costs can vary depending on time-of-day usage, especially if you’re on a time-of-use plan. Running large appliances during off-peak hours can mean real savings.
7. Don’t Forget About Water Heating
Your water heater uses a significant chunk of your home’s energy—especially with the increased demand for hot water that comes in the summer.
What you can do:
- Lower the temperature on your water heater to 120°F.
- Install low-flow fixtures to reduce hot water use in showers and sinks.
- Insulate the tank and pipes to retain heat and reduce demand.
If you’re thinking about upgrading to a more efficient unit, tankless and hybrid water heaters use less energy and provide endless hot water on demand.
Local Bonus Tip: Embrace the Cool Colorado Evenings
One of the unique perks of living in Denver is our summer climate’s natural temperature swing. It can be 90°F during the day and drop into the 60s at night. Use that to your advantage:
- Open windows in cooler evenings to flush out hot indoor air.
- Use window fans or attic fans to help circulate fresh, cool air.
- Close up your home in the morning before temperatures rise.
This old-school cooling trick can reduce your reliance on the AC by several hours a day.
Start Saving Today with Help from Precision
Every degree matters. Every watt counts. And every minute your AC runs inefficiently is money down the drain. But the good news is—you’re not alone.
Let Precision Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric help you make your home cooler, more efficient, and more affordable this summer. From quick tune-ups to energy audits, smart thermostat installs to full HVAC upgrades—we’re here to help Denver beat the heat.