As the heat increases, so does your AC bills. To keep your cooling costs controlled you may be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Dresden?

It’s a common belief that turning your air conditioner on and off throughout the day is inefficient. This is actually not true.

Keeping your air conditioning running all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re out, and turning it down when you come home. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do the work for you.

It’s significantly more laborious for your system to stay at the same temperature for many hours. It can also cause a lot of stress on your equipment, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it might also result in a reduced life span for your HVAC system.

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

Six Approaches to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms that you can conserve up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees during the time you’re away at work. During the summer, it’s suggested to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re out. It’s also important to avoid setting your thermostat to a cooler setting than normal when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool your house any sooner, it just causes bigger electric bills. While these temperatures may appear warm, there are additional methods to keep cooler without having to always run the AC.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says turning 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 cooling season. It’s important to note that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Additionally, keeping blinds lowered and curtains shut for the duration of the day helps keep cool air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver added insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a house permit conditioned air to rapidly get out and warm air to get within. This could cause your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your home cool and your utility bills to climb. Make sure that any openings, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your air conditioner is always performing at its most efficient. This allows our professionals to spot simple issues before they become substantial dilemmas. A well-kept air conditioner is typically more efficient and could even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the greatest methods to assure comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively adjusts the temperature based on your everyday schedule. It works with your smartphone to see when you’re at your house or out to optimize your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 every year on energy costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC Unit. You can foresee a properly cared for AC to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your energy bills are increasing with no change in thermostat settings, it may be time for a new system. We offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without trading comfort.

Improve Your House’s Energy Efficiency with McFadden Heating & Cooling

No one enjoys seeing their air conditioning bill climb during the summer season. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and costs low this summer, our professionals can help. Give us a call at 1-866-781-0111 or contact us online right away for more information.