As the temp goes up, so does your AC expenses. To keep your cooling costs under control you might be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Greater Richmond?

It’s a widespread belief that turning your AC on and off throughout the day is inefficient. This is actually false.

Keeping your air conditioner running all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re out, and turning it down when you come back. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do everything for you.

It’s considerably more laborious for your system to stay at a constant temp throughout the day. It can also cause a lot of strain on your air conditioner, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it can also cause a shorter life expectancy for your AC.

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

Six Methods to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms that you can conserve up to 10% annually on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re out. In 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 additionally important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a lower setting than average when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool down your home any faster, it just leads to bigger electric bills. While these temperatures might appear high, there are a number of methods to keep cooler without having to constantly run the air conditioning.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says dialing up the thermostat by only 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can lower air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the warmer months. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not spaces. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Also, keeping blinds low and curtains shut during the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver added insulation and improve energy efficiency.
  3. Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks throughout a home permit conditioned air to easily get out and warm air to get within. This may result in your AC equipment having to work harder to keep your house comfortable and your AC bills to increase. Make sure that any openings, doors and windows are adequately sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are quick fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your air conditioner is always functioning at its most efficient. This allows our experts to spot little issues before they result in substantial troubles. A clean air conditioner is usually more efficient and might even run for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to guarantee comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your everyday schedule. It works along with your smartphone to notice when you’re in your home or elsewhere to maximize your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 annually on heating and cooling costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC Unit. You can foresee a properly taken care of air conditioner to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are climbing with no change in thermostat settings, it might be time for a new system. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.

Enhance Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Herman Allen Plumbing, Heating & Cooling

No one likes to see their air conditioning bill climb during the summer season. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and expenses low this summer, our experts can help. Get in touch with us at 804-302-6657 or contact us online today for more details.