As the heat rises, so does your air conditioning bills. To keep your air conditioning costs controlled you could be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Safford?
It’s a popular belief that turning your air conditioner on and off throughout the day is wasteful. This is actually false.
Keeping your air conditioner on all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise setting your thermostat higher when you’re away, and turning it down when you come home. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do everything for you.
It’s a lot more work for your system to keep a consistent temp for many hours. It can also cause a lot of strain on your system, since it’s constantly turning on and off.
So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it may also cause a shorter life expectancy for your HVAC system.
Regardless, the greater the difference between your indoor temperature and the outside temperature, the higher your AC expenses will be. So, what can you do to stay cool and keep your electric bills low in the warm weather? 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
- Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE states that you can conserve up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re away at work. In the summer, it’s recommended to set your thermostat at 78 degrees when 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 normal when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool your house any quicker, it just leads to bigger energy bills. While these temperatures could appear toasty, there are a number of methods to keep cooler without having to always run the air conditioner.
- Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says turning up the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can decrease energy by up to 14% over the course of the summer. It’s important to keep in mind that fans cool people, not spaces. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Furthermore, keeping blinds lowered and curtains shut during the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver extra insulation and increase energy efficiency.
- Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a home allow for conditioned air to quickly escape and warm air to get inside. This may result in your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your residence cool and your AC bills to increase. Check that any cracks, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
- Plan for Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your unit is always performing at its most efficient. This lets our professionals to identify little issues before they become serious problems. A maintained air conditioner is generally more efficient and may even last for a longer period of time.
- Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to assure comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively adjusts the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works along with your smartphone to know when you’re home or elsewhere to enhance your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 yearly on HVAC costs.
- Consider Replacing Your AC. You can figure a properly taken care of AC to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are rising with no change in thermostat settings, it could 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 compromising comfort.
Increase Your House’s Energy Efficiency with B&D Air Conditioning
No one likes to see their air conditioning bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy consumption and bills down this summer, our team can help. Reach us at 928-432-6018 or contact us online right away for additional information.