As the heat rises, so does your energy costs. To keep your AC bills low you may be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Cottonwood & Prescott?
It’s a widespread belief that turning your AC unit on and off throughout the day is wasteful. This is actually false.
Keeping your air conditioning on constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend setting your thermostat higher when you’re away, and turning it back down when you return. You can achieve this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do the work for you.
It’s significantly more taxing for your system to keep the same temperature throughout the day. It can also result in a lot of wear and tear to your system, since it’s frequently turning on and off.
So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it might also cause a shortened life cycle for your HVAC system.
No matter what, the greater the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your air conditioning expenses will be. So, what can you do to stay cool and keep your energy bills lower in the summer? Here are our suggestions based on recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.
6 Approaches to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency
- Adjust Your Thermostat Usage. The DOE says that you can spend up to 10% less yearly on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re out of the house. In the summer, it’s recommended to position your thermostat at 78 degrees when you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re out. It’s also important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a lower setting than average when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool down your house any quicker, it just causes bigger energy bills. While these temperatures might appear high, there are a number of ways to keep cooler without having to consistently run the AC.
- Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says dialing up the thermostat by only 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can decrease energy by up to 14% over the course of the cooling season. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Additionally, keeping blinds lowered and curtains shut throughout the day helps keep conditioned air in. There are also some window treatments meant to deliver added insulation and improve energy efficiency.
- Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings all around a home permit conditioned air to quickly get out and the heat to get inside. This may cause your AC equipment having to work harder to keep your residence cooler and your utility bills to rise. Check that any cracks, doors and windows are adequately sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple mends for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
- Arrange Regular Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your air conditioner is always running at its most energy efficient. This lets our professionals to detect small issues before they turn into serious problems. A maintained AC is usually more efficient and can even live for a longer period of time.
- Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest ways to ensure comfort and cost-effectiveness is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat automatically adapts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works with your smartphone to sense when you’re at your house or away to enhance your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 annually on heating and cooling expenses.
- Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can expect a sufficiently cared for AC to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly needing us for air conditioning repair or your energy expenses are increasing with no fluctuations in thermostat settings, it could be time for a new system. We supply numerous energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without negotiating comfort.
Enhance Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Connolly Electric & Mechanical
No one wants to see their electricity bill increase during the summer season. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy consumption and bills low this summer, our experts can help. Reach us at 928-251-4327 or contact us online right away for extra information.