As the temp rises, so does your air conditioning expenses. To keep your cooling expenses low you might be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Savage?
It’s a widespread belief that turning your AC unit on and off throughout the day is inefficient. This is actually a misconception.
Keeping your air conditioning running all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend setting your thermostat higher when you’re away, and turning it down when you come back. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the job for you.
It’s significantly more laborious for your system to stay at a consistent setting for many hours. It can also lead to a lot of strain on your system, since it’s frequently turning on and off.
So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it might also lead to a reduced life span for your AC.
In any case, the bigger the difference between your home’s temperature and the outside temperature, the more your AC costs will be. So, what can you do to remain cool and keep your utility bills low in the hot weather? Here are our suggestions based upon recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.
6 Approaches to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency
- Change Your Thermostat. The DOE states that you can conserve up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re away. Through the hotter months, it’s recommended to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees when you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re elsewhere. It’s also important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a lower setting than usual when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool your house any quicker, it just causes more expensive energy bills. While these temperatures may feel high, there are additional approaches to keep cool without having to always run the air conditioning.
- Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says turning up the thermostat by only 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can decrease air conditioning costs by up to 14% during the course of the summer season. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Also, keeping blinds low and curtains drawn during the day helps keep conditioned air in. There are also some window treatments made to deliver added insulation and improve energy efficiency.
- Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a residence permit conditioned air to rapidly slip out and warmer air to get within. This can cause your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your house cool and your utility costs to skyrocket. Check that any cracks, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple mends for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
- Schedule Routine Tune-Ups. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your AC is always running at its most energy efficient. This permits our pro to locate little issues before they turn into significant problems. A clean AC unit is typically more efficient and may even last for a longer period of time.
- Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to guarantee comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works together with your smartphone to notice when you’re in your home or elsewhere to maximize your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 per year on HVAC expenses.
- Consider Replacing Your AC Unit. You can anticipate a sufficiently maintained AC unit to last for 15-20 years. But if you’re frequently contacting us for air conditioning repair or your AC expenses are skyrocketing with no fluctuations in thermostat settings, it might be time for an upgrade. We supply numerous energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.
Increase Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning
No one likes to see their utility bill climb during the warm months. If you’re wanting more ways to keep your energy use and expenses low this summer, our experts can help. Reach us at 952-373-0377 or contact us online now for additional information.