As the temp increases, so does your air conditioning bills. To keep your air conditioning costs down you may be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Columbus?
It’s a widespread belief that turning your AC unit on and off throughout the day is wasteful. This is actually false.
Keeping your AC going 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 down when you get back. You can achieve this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do the work for you.
It’s far more taxing for your system to stay at the same temperature for many hours. It can also lead to a lot of wear and tear to your air conditioner, since it’s frequently turning on and off.
So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it can also result in a shorter life cycle for your AC.
Regardless, the larger the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the higher your AC bills will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your utility bills low in the summer? Here are our tips based on recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.
6 Approaches to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency
- Modify Your Temperature. The DOE states that you can spend up to 10% less annually on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees during the time you’re away. In the summer months, it’s advised to set your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re elsewhere. It’s also important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a colder setting than average when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool your house any faster, it just leads to more expensive electric costs. While these temperatures might appear toasty, there are additional approaches to keep cool without having to constantly run the air conditioning.
- Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says dialing up the thermostat by just 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can decrease air conditioning costs by up to 14% during the course of the summer. It’s important to keep in mind that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Furthermore, keeping blinds lowered and curtains drawn throughout the day helps keep chilled air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver extra insulation and enhance energy efficiency.
- Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks all across a residence let cool air to rapidly slip out and the heat to get within. This could cause your AC being required to work harder to keep your house cool and your AC bills to climb. Check that any openings, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are quick mends for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
- Schedule Annual Tune-Ups. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your air conditioner is always performing at its most energy efficient. This lets our experts to find small issues before they result in substantial problems. A clean air conditioner is generally more efficient and might even last longer.
- Invest in a Smart Thermostat. One of the best approaches to assure comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively adjusts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works with your smartphone to sense when you’re home or gone to optimize your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 annually on energy bills.
- Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can figure an adequately taken care of AC unit to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly contacting us for air conditioning repair or your utility costs are increasing with no shifts in thermostat settings, it could be time for a new system. We carry a number of energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without compromising comfort.
Increase Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Wolfe & Sons Heating and Cooling
No one wants to see their energy bill climb during the summer. If you’re wanting more ways to keep your energy use and bills low this summer, our pros can help. Give us a call at 614-451-0846 or contact us online now for extra info.