As the temperature increases, so does your AC costs. To keep your cooling costs controlled you could be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Cache Valley?

It’s a widespread belief that turning your AC unit on and off throughout the day is inefficient. This is actually not true.

Keeping your air conditioning going all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re away, and lowering it when you come home. You can achieve this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat will do the work for you.

It’s much more taxing for your system to achieve the same setting throughout the day. It can also result in a lot of wear and tear to your air conditioner, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your energy bills, it may also lead to a reduced life expectancy for your air conditioner.

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

Six Ways to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Change Your Thermostat. The DOE says that you can conserve up to 10% annually on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re away at work. In the summer, it’s suggested to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees when you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re out. It’s additionally important to avoid setting your thermostat to a cooler setting than average when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool down your home any quicker, it just leads to bigger electric bills. While these temperatures could appear high, there are additional methods to keep cooler without having to always run the AC.
  2. Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising the thermostat by only 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can decrease energy by up to 14% over the course of the summer. It’s important to remember that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Additionally, keeping blinds low and curtains shut during the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver added insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a home let conditioned air to rapidly get out and warm air to get within. 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 cracks, doors and windows are adequately sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are quick fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your equipment is always performing at its most efficient. This permits our pros to find small issues before they become major problems. A well-kept air conditioner is usually more efficient and can even last for a longer period of time.
  5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to ensure comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works along with your smartphone to see when you’re in your home or elsewhere to optimize your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 per year on heating and cooling costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC Unit. You can expect a properly taken care of AC to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are increasing with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for an upgrade. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, including ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without negotiating comfort.

Enhance Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Western Mechanical, Inc.

No one enjoys seeing their energy bill climb during the summer. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and costs down this summer, our professionals can help. Get in touch with us at 435-753-5515 or contact us online now for additional details.