As the temperature increases, so does your AC costs. To keep your AC expenses down you could be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Reinholds?

It’s a common belief that turning your air conditioner on and off throughout the day is a waste of energy. This is actually a myth.

Keeping your air conditioning running constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re away, and turning it back down when you come home. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the work for you.

It’s far more laborious for your system to achieve the same setting for many hours. It can also lead to a lot of wear and tear to your air conditioner, since it’s frequently turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it can also lead to a reduced life cycle for your AC unit.

No matter what, the larger the difference between your indoor temperature and the outside temperature, the higher your air conditioning expenses will be. So, what can you do to stay cool and keep your energy bills low in the hot weather? Here are our ideas based off of recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Ways to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Change Your Thermostat. The DOE states that you can conserve up to 10% annually on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees during the time you’re out of the house. In the summer, it’s advised to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees at the time you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re elsewhere. It’s equally as important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a lower setting than usual when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool off your home any sooner, it just causes bigger energy bills. While these temperatures could appear high, there are many methods to keep cooler without having to always run the air conditioning.
  2. Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says dialing up the thermostat by just 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lessen AC by up to 14% over the course of the cooling season. It’s important to keep in mind that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you leave the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Additionally, keeping blinds low and curtains drawn for the duration of the day helps keep conditioned air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver added insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks throughout a house permit conditioned air to easily get out and warm air to get in. This could result in your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your home cool and your utility bills to rise. Check that any gaps, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Regular Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your unit is always functioning at its most efficient. This permits our experts to find little issues before they turn into significant troubles. A maintained air conditioner is typically more efficient and might even run for a longer period of time.
  5. Invest in a Smart Thermostat. One of the greatest methods to ensure comfort and cost-effectiveness is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works along with your smartphone to know when you’re at your house or away to enhance your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 yearly on heating and cooling costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can figure a properly maintained AC unit to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re frequently calling us for air conditioning repair or your utility bills are skyrocketing with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for a new system. We offer 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 County Line Mechanical LLC

No one enjoys seeing their utility bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and bills down this summer, our experts can help. Reach us at 717-216-0846 or contact us online today for more details.