As the temperature increases, so does your air conditioning expenses. To keep your cooling costs down you may be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Thousand Palms?
It’s a popular belief that turning your air conditioner on and off throughout the day is a waste of energy. This is actually a myth.
Keeping your air conditioner on all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest setting your thermostat higher when you’re away, and turning it down when you come home. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat will do the job for you.
It’s significantly more work for your system to stay at a constant temp all day long. It can also result in a lot of strain on your system, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.
So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it may also cause a reduced life cycle for your AC.
No matter what, the greater the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the higher your air conditioning expenses will be. So, what can you do to remain cool and keep your utility bills low in the hot weather? Here are our tips 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
- Modify Your Thermostat. The DOE says that you can conserve up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees during the time you’re out of the house. Through the summer, it’s advised to keep 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 colder setting than average when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool your residence any quicker, it just leads to bigger electric bills. While these temperatures might appear toasty, there are additional methods to keep cool without having to constantly run the air conditioner.
- Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising the thermostat by only 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lower air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the cooling season. It’s important to note that fans cool people, not spaces. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Also, keeping blinds low and curtains shut for the duration of the day helps keep cool air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver extra insulation and improve energy efficiency.
- Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks throughout a house allow for conditioned air to rapidly escape and warmer air to get inside. This may lead to your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your house comfortable and your AC bills to skyrocket. Make certain that any gaps, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
- Arrange Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your equipment is always running at its most efficient. This permits our professionals to find simple issues before they turn into substantial problems. A maintained air conditioner is usually more efficient and can even run for a longer period of time.
- Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the greatest methods to guarantee comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively adjusts the temperature based on your daily schedule. It works together with your smartphone to know when you’re at your house or away to enhance your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 per year on heating and cooling costs.
- Consider Replacing Your AC. You can foresee a properly cared for AC 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, including ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without trading comfort.
Enhance Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Marios Air Conditioning
No one wants to see their air conditioning bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy consumption and bills lower this summer, our team can help. Reach us at 760-314-4766 or contact us online right away for more details.