As the temperature goes up, so does your air conditioning bills. To keep your cooling bills down you might be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Bloomfield?

It’s a widespread belief that turning your air conditioner on and off throughout the day is wasteful. This is actually not true.

Keeping your air conditioner on all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise setting your thermostat higher when you’re out, and turning it down when you come home. You can achieve this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the job for you.

It’s a lot more laborious for your system to keep the same temperature all day long. It can also result in a lot of strain on your system, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it could also result in a reduced life span for your air conditioner.

No matter what, the bigger the difference between your home’s temperature and the outside temperature, the more your energy expenses will be. So, what can you do to remain cool and keep your utility bills low in the summer season? Here are our tips based upon recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Approaches to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Change Your Thermostat. The DOE states that you can conserve up to 10% yearly on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re out. Through the summer, it’s suggested to position your thermostat at 78 degrees at the time you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s also important to forgo setting your thermostat to a colder setting than average when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool off your residence any sooner, it just results in bigger energy bills. While these temperatures might appear high, there are additional methods to keep comfortable without having to constantly run the air conditioner.
  2. Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says increasing the thermostat by only 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can lower AC by up to 14% over the course of the warm months. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you leave the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Furthermore, keeping blinds down and curtains drawn for the duration of the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver additional insulation and enhance energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a residence let conditioned air to quickly get out and warm air to get in. This could lead to your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your house cooler and your utility bills to skyrocket. Make sure that any cracks, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Arrange Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your equipment is always running at its most efficient. This lets our experts to spot simple issues before they result in significant troubles. A well-kept air conditioner is generally more efficient and could even run for a longer period of time.
  5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to ensure comfort and cost-effectiveness is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works along with your smartphone to know when you’re in your home or gone to maximize your energy efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 annually on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioning Unit. You can foresee a properly maintained AC to last for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are rising with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for a replacement. We carry many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without negotiating comfort.

Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Stanford Heating & Cooling

No one enjoys seeing their air conditioning bill climb during the warmer months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and bills lower this summer, our team can help. Get in touch with us at 812-825-8695 or contact us online right away for additional details.