Watch the Video
In this video, our team breaks down why so many DFW homeowners see their electric bills spike during the hottest stretch of summer — and why the air conditioner is often the hidden culprit. If your bill has crept up without any real change in how you use your home, this one's worth watching before you call the electric company to ask questions they can't answer.
The Usual Suspects Behind High Bills
As we cover in the video, a handful of AC issues tend to be responsible for most unexplained spikes in energy usage. A dirty air filter forces your system to work harder just to move the same amount of air, which drives up runtime and electricity use. Low refrigerant, often caused by a slow leak, makes the compressor run longer without delivering the cooling it should. And dirty condenser coils outside make it harder for the system to release heat, again forcing longer run cycles.
None of these issues necessarily stop your system from cooling your home — which is exactly why they're easy to miss. The AC still runs, the house still cools down, but it's costing you more to get there.
Quick Checks You Can Do Today
Before assuming the worst, there are a few things every homeowner can check without calling a technician:
- Check your air filter and replace it if it looks gray, clogged, or hasn't been swapped in over a month
- Walk outside and make sure your outdoor unit isn't surrounded by grass clippings, leaves, or overgrown shrubs
- Check that your thermostat schedule matches how your household actually uses the home
- Listen for unusual noises like grinding, rattling, or a compressor that seems to run constantly
These small checks take just a few minutes but can rule out some of the most common causes of a high bill.
When It's Time to Call a Pro
If you've checked the basics and your bill is still higher than it should be, it's likely something a homeowner can't diagnose without the right tools — like refrigerant levels, electrical component wear, or duct leaks. Continuing to run a struggling system not only keeps your bills high, it can also shorten the lifespan of the equipment by putting extra strain on the compressor.
Our residential air conditioning technicians can run a full diagnostic to pinpoint exactly what's driving up your usage, rather than guessing at fixes that may not solve the real problem.
Get Help From Spencer
If this video sounds like it's describing your summer electric bill, don't wait for the problem to get worse. Call us at 972-446-2665 to schedule a diagnostic, or check out our maintenance plan to catch these issues before they show up on your next statement.
Spencer Air Conditioning & Heating — Serving DFW Since 1960. License TACLA115636C