As the temperature rises, so does your air conditioning costs. To keep your cooling expenses under control you may be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Jefferson City?
It’s a common belief that turning your AC on and off throughout the day is a waste of energy. This is actually a myth.
Keeping your air conditioner running all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re out, and turning it back down when you get back. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do the work for you.
It’s a lot more work for your system to achieve the same setting for many hours. It can also lead to a lot of wear and tear to your equipment, since it’s constantly turning on and off.
So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it might also cause a reduced life cycle for your air conditioner.
No matter what, the greater the difference between your indoor temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your air conditioning bills will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your electric bills lower in the hot weather? Here are our ideas based upon recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.
6 Methods to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency
- Adjust Your Thermostat Usage. The DOE says that you can spend up to 10% less annually on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re out of the house. Through the summer, it’s suggested to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s also important to avoid setting your thermostat to a colder setting than usual when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool off your residence any sooner, it just leads to more expensive electric costs. While these temperatures could seem toasty, there are many approaches to keep cooler without having to consistently run the AC.
- Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says dialing up the thermostat by just 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can lower AC by up to 14% over the course of the summer. It’s important to note that fans cool people, not spaces. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Also, keeping blinds lowered and curtains shut throughout the day helps keep conditioned air indoors. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver added insulation and boost energy efficiency.
- Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings all across a home permit cool air to rapidly escape and warmer air to get inside. This may result in your air conditioner being required to work harder to keep your house cool and your AC expenses to rise. Make sure that any openings, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy mends for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
- Arrange Annual Tune-Ups. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your unit is always running at its most energy efficient. This allows our experts to find small issues before they become serious problems. A maintained AC unit is usually more efficient and may even last for a longer period of time.
- Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to guarantee comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adapts the temperature based on your daily schedule. It works with your smartphone to see when you’re at your house or gone to maximize your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 yearly on energy expenses.
- Consider Replacing Your AC. You can anticipate a properly maintained air conditioner to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re often needing us for air conditioning repair or your energy bills are rising with no fluctuations in thermostat settings, it may be time for an upgrade. We offer a number of energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without compromising comfort.
Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Stieferman Heating Company Inc
No one enjoys seeing their air conditioning bill rise during the warmer months. If you’re wanting more ways to keep your energy use and costs down this summer, our experts can help. Give us a call at 573-635-3547 or contact us online now for additional details.