As the temperature rises, so does your AC costs. To keep your cooling expenses down you might be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Mobile?

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

Keeping your air conditioning going all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise setting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and lowering it when you come back. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do the work for you.

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

So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it could also lead to a shorter life span for your AC.

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

Six Approaches to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Change Your Thermostat. The DOE says that you can conserve up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re out. Through the summer, it’s suggested to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re elsewhere. It’s equally as important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a lower setting than normal when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool off your house any sooner, it just causes bigger energy bills. While these temperatures may appear high, there are additional methods to keep cool without having to consistently run the AC unit.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says turning up the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lower energy by up to 14% over the course of the summer season. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you leave the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Also, keeping blinds lowered and curtains closed for the duration of the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver additional insulation and improve energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a house permit conditioned air to quickly get out and warmer air to get inside. This can lead to your AC equipment having to work harder to keep your home comfortable and your AC bills to rise. Make certain that any openings, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your equipment is always functioning at its most efficient. This allows our experts to locate simple issues before they result in major dilemmas. A well-kept air conditioner is generally more efficient and could even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to guarantee comfort and cost-effectiveness is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your daily schedule. It works along with your smartphone to know when you’re in your home or gone to optimize your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 per year on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can figure a properly taken care of AC to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your utility bills are increasing with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for a replacement. We offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, including ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.

Increase Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Farnell Heating & Air Conditioning 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 low this summer, our professionals can help. Get in touch with us at 251-471-2674 or contact us online now for additional info.