As the temp rises, so does your air conditioning bills. To keep your AC expenses under control you may be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Odessa?
It’s a widespread belief that turning your AC unit on and off throughout the day is wasteful. This is actually not true.
Keeping your air conditioning on all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend setting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and lowering it when you come back. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do the work for you.
It’s considerably more laborious for your system to stay at the same setting for many hours. It can also result in a lot of stress on your system, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.
So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it could also result in a reduced life span for your HVAC system.
No matter what, the bigger the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your energy bills will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your energy bills down in the summer season? Here are our suggestions based upon recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.
6 Approaches to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency
- Modify Your Thermostat. The DOE states that you can spend up to 10% less per year on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re away at work. During the warmer months, it’s advised to position your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s additionally important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a colder setting than average when you turn on your air conditioner. This doesn’t actually cool your house any faster, it just results in more expensive utility bills. While these temperatures could appear high, there are additional methods to keep cooler without having to always run the air conditioner.
- Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can lower energy by up to 14% over the course of the summer. 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. Also, keeping blinds down and curtains closed during the day helps keep chilled air indoors. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver extra insulation and increase energy efficiency.
- Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks around a home permit cool air to easily escape and warmer air to get inside. This could result in your air conditioner having to work harder to keep your residence comfortable and your energy expenses to increase. Make sure that any openings, doors and windows are adequately sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy mends for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
- Arrange Annual Tune-Ups. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your system is always running at its most energy efficient. This lets our professionals to detect small issues before they turn into substantial problems. A well-kept air conditioner is generally more efficient and may even run for a longer period of time.
- Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to guarantee comfort and cost-effectiveness is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat automatically adapts the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works together with your smartphone to sense when you’re at home or elsewhere to optimize your energy efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 yearly on energy costs.
- Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioning Unit. You can figure a sufficiently taken care of AC to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly contacting us for air conditioning repair or your energy expenses are skyrocketing with no shifts in thermostat settings, it may be time for a replacement. We supply a number of energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without negotiating comfort.
Improve Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning
No one enjoys seeing their energy bill climb during the summer. If you’re wanting more ways to keep your energy use and bills down this summer, our team can help. Reach us at 432-237-0168 or contact us online today for additional information.