As the temp goes up, so does your AC bills. To keep your air conditioning costs low you may be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Swanton?

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

Keeping your air conditioner going all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re out, and lowering it when you come back. You can achieve this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do the job for you.

It’s significantly more taxing for your system to keep a consistent setting throughout the day. 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 electricity bills, it can also cause a shortened life span for your AC.

In any case, the bigger the difference between your home’s temperature and the outside temperature, the more your AC expenses will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your electric bills low in the warm weather? Here are our tips based upon recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Ways to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Adjust Your Thermostat. The DOE says that you can conserve up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees during the time you’re away at work. During the summer, it’s suggested 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 colder setting than average when you turn on your air conditioner. This doesn’t actually cool your residence any quicker, it just leads to bigger utility bills. While these temperatures could appear toasty, there are many methods to keep cooler without having to always run the AC.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says increasing the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can lessen AC by up to 14% over the course of the summer. It’s important to note that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Additionally, keeping blinds lowered and curtains drawn throughout the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver additional insulation and boost energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a house let conditioned air to quickly get out and warmer air to get in. This can cause your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your house cool and your energy bills to climb. Check that any cracks, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your equipment is always performing at its most efficient. This lets our experts to locate little issues before they result in serious problems. A clean air conditioner is typically more efficient and could even run for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to guarantee comfort and cost-effectiveness is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively adjusts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works together with your smartphone to know when you’re at your house or gone to enhance your energy efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 per year on heating and cooling costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC. You can figure a properly maintained AC unit to last for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your energy bills are rising with no change in thermostat settings, it might be time for a replacement. We offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.

Improve Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Northwest Services

No one likes to see their utility bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy consumption and expenses down this summer, our team can help. Reach us at 419-548-5017 or contact us online today for extra info.