As the heat goes up, so does your AC costs. To keep your cooling bills down you might be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Ballwin and St. Charles?

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

Keeping your AC running all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re away, and turning it back down when you return. You can achieve 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 achieve a constant setting for many hours. It can also result in a lot of wear and tear to your system, since it’s frequently turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it could also result in a shorter life span for your HVAC system.

In any case, the greater the difference between your home’s temperature and the outside temperature, the more your energy expenses will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your electric bills low in the summer season? Here are our tips based upon recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Approaches to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Adjust Your Thermostat. The DOE states that you can conserve up to 10% yearly on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re out. During the summer, it’s recommended to set your thermostat at 78 degrees at the time you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re out. It’s also important to forgo setting your thermostat to a colder setting than average when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool your home any faster, it just leads to bigger utility bills. While these temperatures could appear warm, there are many methods to keep cooler without having to constantly run the AC.
  2. Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says increasing the thermostat by only 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can lessen air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the summer. 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. Furthermore, keeping blinds down and curtains closed for the duration of the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver extra insulation and improve energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a house let conditioned air to easily slip out and warm air to get in. This could lead to your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your residence cooler and your utility bills to increase. Make sure that any gaps, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Regular Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your system is always functioning at its most efficient. This lets our pros to spot small issues before they turn into substantial problems. A well-kept air conditioner is usually more efficient and might even last for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to assure comfort and cost-effectiveness is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works with your smartphone to know when you’re at your house or gone to optimize your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 yearly on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC. You can foresee a properly maintained AC to last for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your energy bills are increasing with no change in thermostat settings, it might be time for a replacement. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without compromising comfort.

Enhance Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Air Alliance Team

No one likes to see their air conditioning bill climb during the summer. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and costs low this summer, our professionals can help. Reach us at 636-206-4584 or contact us online now for extra information.