As the temperature increases, so does your energy bills. To keep your cooling bills controlled you might be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Huntingburg?
It’s a widespread belief that turning your AC on and off throughout the day is inefficient. This is actually a myth.
Keeping your AC on constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re away, and lowering it when you come back. You can achieve this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat will do everything for you.
It’s significantly more laborious for your system to achieve the same temp for many hours. It can also result in a lot of stress on your equipment, since it’s frequently turning on and off.
So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it may also cause a shortened life span for your HVAC system.
Regardless, the greater the difference between your indoor temperature and the outside temperature, the more your air conditioning expenses will be. So, what can you do to stay cool and keep your utility bills low in the summer season? Here are our suggestions based off of recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.
Six Methods to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency
- Modify Your Thermostat. The DOE states that you can conserve up to 10% yearly on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re away. Through the summer, it’s advised to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re out. It’s equally as important to forgo setting your thermostat to a colder setting than normal when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool off your house any sooner, it just results in bigger electric bills. While these temperatures may appear toasty, there are a number of methods to keep comfortable without having to constantly run the air conditioning.
- Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says turning up the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lessen AC by up to 14% over the course of the summer. It’s important to remember that fans cool people, not spaces. So, when you leave the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Additionally, keeping blinds lowered and curtains closed throughout the day helps keep conditioned air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver added insulation and boost energy efficiency.
- Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a house let conditioned air to quickly escape and warm air to get inside. This could cause your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your residence cool and your energy bills to rise. Check 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.
- Plan for Regular Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your equipment is always performing at its most efficient. This lets our pros to find small issues before they result in substantial dilemmas. A maintained air conditioner is usually more efficient and may even run for a longer period of time.
- Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the greatest methods to ensure comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your everyday schedule. It works together with your smartphone to notice when you’re at your house or away to optimize your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 every year on energy costs.
- Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioning Unit. You can expect a properly taken care of air conditioner to last for 15-20 years. But if you’re frequently calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are skyrocketing with no change in thermostat settings, it might be time for an upgrade. We carry many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without trading comfort.
Increase Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Dearing's Service & Solutions
No one enjoys seeing their air conditioning bill climb during the summer season. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and costs down this summer, our team can help. Reach us at 812-200-5844 or contact us online now for additional details.