As the heat rises, so does your energy bills. To keep your cooling bills controlled you could be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Pacheco?
It’s a common belief that turning your AC unit on and off throughout the day is wasteful. This is actually a misconception.
Keeping your AC going constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend setting your thermostat higher when you’re out, and turning it down when you get back. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do everything for you.
It’s much more laborious for your system to achieve a consistent temp 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 might also lead to a reduced life cycle for your HVAC system.
In any case, the bigger the difference between your indoor temperature and the outside temperature, the more your AC expenses will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your electric bills lower in the summer? Here are our tips based on recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.
6 Methods to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency
- Adjust Your Temperature. The DOE affirms that you can conserve up to 10% yearly on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re out of the house. During the summer months, it’s suggested to set your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s additionally important to avoid setting your thermostat to a lower setting than normal when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool down your home any sooner, it just causes higher electric bills. While these temperatures could seem toasty, there are a number of ways to keep comfortable without having to constantly run the air conditioner.
- Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising the thermostat by just 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lower energy by up to 14% throughout the warm months. 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 low and curtains closed throughout the day helps keep conditioned air in. There are also some window treatments intended to deliver added insulation and increase energy efficiency.
- Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks around a residence enable cool air to rapidly escape and the heat to get inside. This may lead to your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your home cool and your AC costs to climb. Check that any openings, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy mends for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
- Plan for Annual Checkups. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your unit is always performing at its best. This allows our experts to identify simple issues before they turn into serious problems. A clean AC unit is usually more efficient and may even last longer.
- Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the best approaches to ensure comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively changes the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works along with your smartphone to notice when you’re in your home or away to enhance your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 annually on HVAC costs.
- Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioning Unit. You can figure a properly taken care of AC unit to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your utility bills are climbing with no altering in thermostat settings, it may be time for an upgrade. We offer a number of energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.
Increase Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Clean Air HVAC
No one wants to see their utility bill rise during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and expenses lower this summer, our experts can help. Reach us at 925-233-6238 or contact us online right away for more info.