As the temp increases, so does your air conditioning costs. To keep your AC costs controlled you could be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Brookfield?

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

Keeping your air conditioner on all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and turning it down when you come home. You can achieve this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do everything for you.

It’s significantly more work for your system to stay at the same temp throughout the day. It can also cause a lot of wear and tear to your system, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it may also result in a shorter life expectancy for your AC.

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

Six Approaches to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE states that you can conserve up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees during the time you’re out of the house. In the summer, it’s recommended to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re out. It’s equally as important to avoid setting your thermostat to a cooler setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. This doesn’t actually cool down your house any sooner, it just causes bigger electric bills. While these temperatures could appear toasty, there are additional methods to keep comfortable without having to always run the AC unit.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says turning up the thermostat by only 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can lower AC by up to 14% over the course of the summer 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 be energy efficient. Also, keeping blinds lowered and curtains drawn throughout the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver added insulation and improve energy efficiency.
  3. Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a home permit conditioned air to easily get out and warmer air to get inside. This may lead to your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your home comfortable and your energy bills to rise. Make certain that any cracks, doors and windows are adequately sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are quick fixes for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Regular Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your AC is always running at its most efficient. This allows our pros to find small issues before they turn into serious problems. A well-kept air conditioner is usually more efficient and might even run for a longer period of time.
  5. Invest in a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to guarantee comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works along with your smartphone to know when you’re at your house or out to optimize your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 per year on heating and cooling costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can figure a properly maintained AC unit to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your utility bills are climbing with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for an upgrade. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, including ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without trading comfort.

Improve Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Central Air LLC

No one likes to see their energy bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy consumption and bills low this summer, our pros can help. Reach us at 203-357-5913 or contact us online right away for extra details.