As the temperature goes up, so does your air conditioning costs. To keep your AC bills low you could be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Genoa?

It’s a widespread belief that turning your air conditioner on and off throughout the day is wasteful. This is actually a myth.

Keeping your air conditioning running constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re away, and turning it back down when you come home. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the job for you.

It’s far more laborious for your system to stay at a consistent temp throughout the day. It can also lead to a lot of stress on your equipment, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

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

Regardless, the greater the difference between your home’s temperature and the outside temperature, the higher your air conditioning expenses will be. So, what can you do to remain cool and keep your energy bills low in the summer season? Here are our ideas based off of recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Ways to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

1. Adjust Your Thermostat. The DOE says that you can conserve up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re out of the house. In the summer, it’s suggested to position your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s additionally important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a cooler setting than average when you turn on your air conditioner. This doesn’t actually cool your residence any faster, it just causes bigger electric bills. While these temperatures may appear toasty, there are a number of methods to keep cool without having to constantly run the AC.
2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can decrease air conditioning costs 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. Furthermore, keeping blinds down and curtains drawn for the duration of the day helps keep chilled air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver extra insulation and enhance energy efficiency.
3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a home let conditioned air to rapidly slip out and warmer air to get inside. This may cause your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your house cooler and your utility bills to increase. Make sure that any openings, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
4. Schedule Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your system is always running at its most efficient. This permits our experts to find small issues before they result in substantial dilemmas. A maintained air conditioner is usually more efficient and can even run for a longer period of time.
5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the greatest methods to guarantee comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature based on your daily schedule. It works along with your smartphone to sense when you’re at home or elsewhere to enhance your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 every year on HVAC costs.
6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioning Unit. You can anticipate a properly cared for AC to last for 15-20 years. But if you’re frequently calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are increasing with no change in thermostat settings, it might be time for an upgrade. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without trading comfort.

Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Assured Appliance & Heating & Air

No one enjoys seeing their electricity bill climb during the summer. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and expenses down this summer, our professionals can help. Reach us at +1 847-293-0047 or contact us online now for extra details.