As the heat rises, so does your energy bills. To keep your cooling costs controlled you might be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Mount Hope?

It’s a widespread belief that turning your AC on and off throughout the day is wasteful. This is actually false.

Keeping your air conditioning going all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and lowering it when you come home. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the work for you.

It’s considerably more taxing for your system to keep a constant temperature all day long. It can also result in a lot of wear and tear to your equipment, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it can also cause a shorter life span for your AC.

No matter what, the larger the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the more your energy expenses will be. So, what can you do to remain cool and keep your electric bills low in the warm weather? Here are our ideas based off of recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Approaches to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE states that you can conserve up to 10% annually on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees during the time you’re out. Through 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 also important to avoid setting your thermostat to a lower setting than usual when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool off your residence any sooner, it just leads to bigger utility bills. While these temperatures may appear warm, there are many methods to keep cooler without having to consistently run the AC.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says increasing the thermostat by only 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lower air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the warmer months. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Additionally, keeping blinds down and curtains shut throughout the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver added insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a home allow for conditioned air to rapidly slip out and warm air to get in. This can cause your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your residence cool and your AC bills to skyrocket. Check that any openings, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Arrange Regular Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your equipment is always performing at its most efficient. This allows our professionals to locate little issues before they result in major troubles. A well-kept air conditioner is typically more efficient and could even last for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the greatest methods to ensure comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your daily schedule. It works together with your smartphone to know when you’re home or gone to optimize your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 yearly on energy costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC Unit. You can anticipate a properly cared for AC unit 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 an upgrade. We offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.

Increase Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Appalachian Heating

No one enjoys seeing their electricity bill climb during the summer. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy consumption and expenses low this summer, our team can help. Get in touch with us at 304-707-0600 or contact us online today for additional info.