As the temp increases, so does your AC costs. To keep your cooling costs down you could be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in South Beloit and Belvidere?

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

Keeping your AC going all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re elsewhere, and lowering it when you come home. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the work for you.

It’s much more laborious for your system to keep the same setting all day long. It can also result in a lot of wear and tear to your air conditioner, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it can also lead to a reduced life cycle for your air conditioner.

Regardless, the greater the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your energy expenses will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your electric bills low in the warm weather? Here are our ideas based on recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Methods to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Change Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms that you can conserve up to 10% annually on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re out of the house. Through 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 also important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a lower setting than normal when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool off your residence any quicker, it just results in bigger energy bills. While these temperatures could appear warm, there are a number of methods to keep cooler without having to always run the air conditioning.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can decrease energy by up to 14% over the course of the summer season. It’s important to note that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Furthermore, keeping blinds low and curtains shut throughout the day helps keep cool air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver added insulation and boost energy efficiency.
  3. Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a home allow for conditioned air to rapidly slip out and warm air to get inside. This may result in your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your house comfortable and your energy bills to rise. Make certain that any gaps, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your equipment is always running at its most efficient. This allows our experts to spot little issues before they result in substantial problems. A clean air conditioner is generally more efficient and could even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to ensure comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works together with your smartphone to sense when you’re at your house or away to maximize your energy efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 every year on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC Unit. You can figure a properly cared for AC to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are skyrocketing with no change in thermostat settings, it might be time for a replacement. We offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.

Improve Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Fleming Heating & Air Conditioning Inc

No one likes to see their utility bill climb during the summer. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and costs down this summer, our team can help. Give us a call at 877-389-2465 or contact us online now for extra information.