As the temperature rises, so does your air conditioning costs. To keep your cooling bills low you may be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Justin?

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

Keeping your air conditioner running all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and turning it back down when you come home. You can achieve this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat will do the work for you.

It’s significantly more work for your system to keep a consistent temperature for many hours. It can also lead to a lot of strain on your equipment, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it may also lead to a reduced life span for your AC unit.

No matter what, the bigger the difference between your indoor temperature and the outside temperature, the higher your energy expenses will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your energy bills low in the summer? Here are our suggestions based off of recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Approaches to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE says that you can conserve up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re out. During the summer, it’s recommended to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees at the time you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re elsewhere. It’s equally as important to avoid setting your thermostat to a lower setting than normal when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool down your house any faster, it just results in bigger electric bills. While these temperatures might appear high, there are a number of methods to keep comfortable without having to constantly run the air conditioner.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says dialing up the thermostat by just 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lessen air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the warmer 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 save energy. Additionally, keeping blinds down and curtains closed for the duration of the day helps keep chilled air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver extra insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a home enable conditioned air to easily escape and warm air to get inside. This may lead to your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your house comfortable and your energy bills to rise. Make sure that any openings, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Plan for Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your system is always performing at its most efficient. This allows our professionals to locate little issues before they result in serious problems. A maintained air conditioner is typically more efficient and can even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to ensure comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works along with your smartphone to sense when you’re in your home or elsewhere to enhance your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 every year on heating and cooling costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC. You can figure a properly taken care of AC unit to last for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your energy bills are skyrocketing with no change in thermostat settings, it might be time for a new system. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without trading comfort.

Increase Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Pepper AC & Heat

No one likes to see their utility bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and expenses down this summer, our pros can help. Get in touch with us at 940-202-1184 or contact us online right away for extra info.