As the temp rises, so does your air conditioning costs. To keep your cooling bills controlled you could be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Payson?

It’s a common belief that turning your AC unit 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 suggest setting your thermostat higher when you’re out, and turning it back down when you return. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the work for you.

It’s much more laborious for your system to stay at the same temp all day long. It can also cause a lot of stress on your equipment, since it’s frequently turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it might also lead to a reduced life expectancy for your AC.

No matter what, the bigger 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 hot weather? Here are our suggestions based on recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Ways to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms that you can conserve up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re away. Through the summer, it’s recommended to position your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s also important to forgo setting your thermostat to a colder setting than average when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool down your house any faster, it just causes bigger energy bills. While these temperatures could appear high, there are a number of methods to keep cooler without having to consistently run the air conditioner.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says turning up the thermostat by just 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lessen air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the cooling season. It’s important to keep in mind that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Furthermore, keeping blinds down and curtains drawn during the day helps keep chilled air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver added insulation and improve energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks throughout a residence permit conditioned air to quickly escape and warm air to get inside. This may lead to your AC equipment having to work harder to keep your residence cooler and your AC bills to climb. Check that any cracks, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are quick fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Arrange Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your unit is always performing at its most efficient. This allows our professionals to find small issues before they become major dilemmas. A maintained air conditioner is usually more efficient and might even last for a longer period of time.
  5. Invest in a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to assure comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively adjusts the temperature based on your daily schedule. It works together with your smartphone to sense when you’re at home or away to optimize your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 yearly on heating and cooling costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can foresee a properly maintained AC unit to last for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are increasing 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 trading comfort.

Increase Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with North Mechanical Heating and Cooling

No one likes to see their electricity bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and bills low this summer, our experts can help. Give us a call at 928-263-8570 or contact us online today for extra information.