Your AC Is Working Fine. So Why Is Your Arizona Electric Bill Still Going Up?

# Your AC Works Fine… Why Is Your Phoenix Electric Bill So High?

 

If you have lived in Phoenix for any period you already know how summer changes your bill.

 

You lower the AC a bit. Then lower it a bit more. Soon the AC appears to run all day.

 

Then the APS or SRP bill arrives.

 

**Ouch.**

 

So you call the AC company because you think something must be wrong with the system.

 

They come out check everything and tell you ‘Your AC works great.’

 

Well… that’s good.

 

That does not exactly explain the electric bill.

 

If your AC does what it is supposed to do another place you may want to look is **your attic.**

 

## How Hot Is Your Phoenix Attic?

 

Did you know? Your attic can become ** hot** during a Phoenix summer. I mean hot! We have been in Phoenix-area attics where temperatures reached about **170 degrees**.

 

Now consider what is happening inside your home. Your thermostat may be set around 75-78 degrees while a few feet above the ceiling the attic sits at temperatures more than twice that.

 

That is a lot of heat sitting directly above your air-conditioned rooms.

 

Your insulation should help keep that heat from moving into your home.

 

How do you know your insulation is doing its job?

 

**When was the last time somebody actually checked it?**

 

We are not talking about sticking your head through the attic hatch looking around for 30 seconds and saying, ‘Yep there is insulation.’ We are talking about checking the *entire attic**.

 

## Your AC Might Not Be the Problem

 

This is one of the things we see that can frustrate homeowners.

 

The AC company checks the system. Everything looks good.

 

The unit is running.

 

AC blows air.

 

The temperatures coming out of the vents look right.

 

The equipment checks out.

 

The house still feels warm and the AC keeps running.

 

Sometimes the problem is not the AC.

 

The amount of heat that AC fights.

 

If your attic becomes extremely hot and your insulation does not provide barrier that heat can travel toward your living space.

 

Your AC then has to remove that heat.

 

Over.

 

All day.

 

In Phoenix that is a lot of work.

 

## “But I Have a New House”

 

We hear this one often.

 

A homeowner will say, ‘My house is a few years old. The insulation should be fine.’

 

Maybe it is.

 

New does not always mean your insulation level is ideal for your particular home.

 

We have seen Phoenix-area homes with **R-30 insulation** in the attic.

 

Depending on your home and its age an R-30 level of insulation may meet the house requirements.

 

There is a difference between **meeting a requirement** and building an attic that handles the Phoenix heat as well as possible.

 

R-38 is a common attic insulation level and many homeowners in the Phoenix area choose **R-49** because of extreme summer temperatures.

 

There is no number that works for every house. That is why we look at what’s already there before telling someone they need more.

 

## Take a Look at the Attic

 

This is important.

 

If you have an attic access panel in your garage, hallway or closet you might pull it down. See what looks like a good amount of insulation.

 

That does not necessarily mean the whole attic looks the same.

 

We have been, in attics where one area has plenty of insulation and another area is noticeably thinner.

 

We have seen gaps.

 

We have seen insulation that has been moved around.

 

We have seen areas that have settled.

 

We have seen places where insulation is missing altogether.

 

We have seen homeowners who had no idea that was happening.

 

That is why looking at one area is not enough.

 

**The entire attic needs to be looked at.**

 

## It’s Not About the Insulation

 

When we are looking at an attic we are not only asking, “How much insulation is here?”

 

We are also looking at the rest of the attic.

 

Are there gaps around plumbing?

 

What about penetrations?

 

Are there openings around recessed lights?

 

Is the attic air sealed?

 

Is the insulation spread evenly?

 

How is the attic ventilation?

 

All of these things can play a role in how your home handles the Phoenix heat.

 

You can have a lot of insulation. If there are significant areas where air and heat can move through you are not getting the full benefit from that insulation.

 

## Maybe Your Electric Bill Is Giving You a Hint

 

Think about the few summer months.

 

Has your electric bill gone up?

 

Does your AC seem to run

 

Do certain rooms in your house get hotter than others?

 

Does the house feel comfortable in the morning but noticeably warmer in the afternoon?

 

Have you already had the AC checked and been told everything is working properly?

 

If you answered yes to some of those questions it is probably worth taking a look in the attic.

 

That does not automatically mean you need insulation. There are plenty of reasons for energy bills.

 

It is an area that is often overlooked.

 

## Before You Start Shopping for a New AC…

 

Nobody wants to replace an air conditioner unless they have to.

 

Replacing an AC system is not cheap.

 

So if your HVAC company has already checked your system and says it is operating properly do not automatically assume the answer is an unit.

 

Take a look at the house first. Specifically look above your head.

 

How much insulation is actually in the attic?

 

Is it evenly distributed?

 

Are there spots or gaps?

 

Has anyone checked the entire attic recently?

 

Those are simple questions but they can be easy to overlook.

 

## Phoenix Is Enough. Your Attic Doesn’t Need Any Help Making It Hotter.

 

We live in the desert.

 

We are going to have summers. There is no getting around that.

 

We can make our homes better equipped to handle the heat.

 

Proper insulation and air sealing can help slow the transfer of heat into your living space. That can make it easier for your AC to maintain the temperature you have set on the thermostat.

 

It will not magically fix every electric bill. Every home is different.

 

If your AC is working properly and your energy bill keeps climbing your attic deserves a closer look.

 

At **Koala Insulation of North and West Phoenix** we inspect the attic, as a whole. We do not just look through the access hatch. Make a recommendation.

 

We will look at the insulation, the coverage, potential problem areas and the overall condition of the attic. Then we will explain what we are seeing and what options make sense for your home.

 

You may not need an air conditioner.

 

You may just need to make sure your air conditioner is not spending all summer fighting a 170-degree attic.

 

When was the last time you had your entire attic checked by a professional?