As the temp rises, so does your energy bills. To keep your cooling costs down you may be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Bloomfield?
It’s a common belief that turning your AC unit on and off throughout the day is wasteful. This is actually not true.
Keeping your air conditioning running all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re out, and turning it down when you come back. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the work for you.
It’s significantly more taxing for your system to stay at the same temp for many hours. It can also cause a lot of stress on your system, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.
So, on top of it increasing your energy bills, it can also result in a reduced life cycle for your air conditioner.
No matter what, the larger the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the higher your AC expenses will be. So, what can you do to stay cool and keep your utility bills low in the summer? Here are our tips based upon recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.
Six Methods to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency
- Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms that you can conserve up to 10% annually on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re out. Through the summer, it’s recommended to set your thermostat at 78 degrees when you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re out. It’s additionally important to avoid setting your thermostat to a lower setting than average when you turn on your air conditioner. This doesn’t actually cool down your residence any sooner, it just leads to bigger energy bills. While these temperatures could appear toasty, there are additional methods to keep cooler without having to always run the air conditioner.
- Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says increasing the thermostat by just 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can lessen energy by up to 14% over the course of the warm months. It’s important to note that fans cool people, not spaces. So, when you leave the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Furthermore, keeping blinds lowered and curtains drawn for the duration of the day helps keep chilled air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver extra insulation and enhance energy efficiency.
- Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks throughout a home let conditioned air to quickly escape and the heat to get in. This can result in your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your home cooler and your utility bills to skyrocket. Make certain that any openings, doors and windows are adequately sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
- Schedule Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your AC is always running at its most efficient. This permits our pros to identify small issues before they become significant problems. A clean air conditioner is generally more efficient and might even live for a longer period of time.
- Invest in a Smart Thermostat. One of the greatest methods to assure comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works together with your smartphone to see when you’re in your home or elsewhere to enhance your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 every year on heating and cooling costs.
- Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can expect a properly maintained air conditioner to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your utility bills are skyrocketing with no change in thermostat settings, it may be time for a new system. We carry many energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.
Increase Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Stanford Heating & Cooling
No one likes to see their energy bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and bills low this summer, our professionals can help. Reach us at 812-825-8695 or contact us online now for more details.