As the temp goes up, so does your air conditioning costs. To keep your AC expenses controlled you may be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Circleville?

It’s a widespread belief that turning your air conditioner on and off throughout the day is wasteful. This is actually not true.

Keeping your air conditioner on constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re away, and turning it down when you come home. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do everything for you.

It’s considerably more work for your system to keep a constant temperature for many hours. It can also result in a lot of stress on your system, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your energy bills, it can also lead to a shortened life cycle for your AC.

In any case, the larger the difference between your indoor temperature and the outside temperature, the more your energy expenses will be. So, what can you do to stay cool and keep your energy bills low in the summer? 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. Modify Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms that you can conserve up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re out of the house. During the summer, it’s advised to set your thermostat at 78 degrees at the time you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s additionally important to avoid setting your thermostat to a cooler setting than average when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool off your home any sooner, it just causes bigger utility bills. While these temperatures might appear warm, there are many methods to keep cool without having to constantly run the air conditioner.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says dialing up the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lower AC 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 head out of the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Also, keeping blinds low and curtains drawn during the day helps keep cool air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver additional insulation and boost energy efficiency.
  3. Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks throughout a home enable conditioned air to rapidly get out and warm air to get in. This may cause your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your home cool and your energy bills to skyrocket. Make certain that any cracks, doors and windows are adequately sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
  4. Arrange Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your air conditioner is always running at its most efficient. This allows our experts to find small issues before they become major dilemmas. A clean air conditioner is usually more efficient and may even last for a longer period of time.
  5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to guarantee comfort and cost-effectiveness is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your everyday schedule. It works along with your smartphone to sense when you’re at home or gone to maximize your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 yearly on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC. You can anticipate a properly taken care of AC to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re frequently calling us for air conditioning repair or your utility bills are rising with no change in thermostat settings, it might be time for an upgrade. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without negotiating comfort.

Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Stephen Hurst Pack Heating and Cooling

No one enjoys seeing their electricity bill climb during the summer. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and costs down this summer, our experts can help. Give us a call at 740-474-5940 or contact us online now for more info.