As the temperature increases, so does your AC bills. To keep your air conditioning bills down you could be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Brookfield?

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

Keeping your air conditioning going all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend setting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and turning it back down when you come back. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do everything for you.

It’s much more work for your system to achieve the same temperature throughout the day. It can also cause a lot of stress on your system, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your energy bills, it could also cause a shorter life expectancy for your air conditioner.

In any case, the larger the difference between your indoor temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your energy expenses will be. So, what can you do to stay cool and keep your utility bills low in the warm weather? Here are our suggestions based on recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Ways to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE states that you can conserve up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees during the time you’re away. In the summer, it’s recommended to set your thermostat at 78 degrees at the time you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re elsewhere. It’s additionally important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a lower setting than average when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool down your home any faster, it just causes bigger energy bills. While these temperatures could appear high, there are many methods to keep comfortable without having to consistently run the air conditioner.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising the thermostat by just 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can decrease AC by up to 14% over the course of the warm months. It’s important to keep in mind that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Additionally, keeping blinds lowered and curtains drawn during the day helps keep cool air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver extra insulation and improve energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks throughout a house allow for conditioned air to easily get out and warm air to get in. This can lead to your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your house comfortable and your utility bills to rise. Make sure that any cracks, doors and windows are adequately sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Regular Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your equipment is always running at its most efficient. This allows our pros to detect small issues before they become significant problems. A well-kept air conditioner is usually more efficient and could even last for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to ensure comfort and cost-effectiveness is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively adjusts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works with your smartphone to sense when you’re in your home or elsewhere to maximize your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 yearly on energy costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can foresee a properly taken care of AC unit to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are climbing with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for a replacement. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without negotiating comfort.

Enhance Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Central Air LLC

No one wants to see their utility bill climb during the summer season. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and costs low this summer, our team can help. Get in touch with us at 203-357-5913 or contact us online now for extra info.