As the heat increases, so does your air conditioning costs. To keep your cooling expenses controlled you could be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Mobile?

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

Keeping your air conditioner running all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and turning it down when you return. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do everything for you.

It’s considerably more work for your system to achieve a constant temperature all day long. It can also result in a lot of wear and tear to your system, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

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

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

Six Approaches to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms that you can conserve up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re out of the house. During the summer, it’s advised to keep 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 lower setting than average when you turn on your air conditioner. This doesn’t actually cool down your home any quicker, it just leads to bigger utility bills. While these temperatures could appear toasty, 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 dialing up the thermostat by only 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can decrease AC by up to 14% over the course of the warmer months. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Additionally, keeping blinds down and curtains closed throughout the day helps keep conditioned air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver added insulation and enhance energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks throughout a house enable conditioned air to rapidly get out and warmer air to get inside. This can lead to your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your residence cooler and your energy bills to climb. Check that any cracks, doors and windows are adequately sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are quick fixes for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
  4. Plan for Regular Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your AC is always functioning at its most efficient. This lets our experts to find small issues before they result in substantial troubles. A clean air conditioner is usually more efficient and can even run for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to assure comfort and cost-effectiveness is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your everyday schedule. It works together with your smartphone to know when you’re at home or elsewhere to enhance your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 every year on energy costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can figure a properly cared for AC to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are climbing 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.

Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Farnell Heating & Air Conditioning Inc

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 lower this summer, our team can help. Reach us at 251-471-2674 or contact us online now for more details.