As the heat increases, so does your AC expenses. To keep your cooling bills controlled you may be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Omaha?
It’s a common belief that turning your air conditioner on and off throughout the day is a waste of energy. This is actually false.
Keeping your air conditioner running constantly 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 achieve this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do everything for you.
It’s much more laborious for your system to stay at a constant setting all day long. It can also result in a lot of stress on your equipment, since it’s frequently turning on and off.
So, on top of it increasing your energy bills, it could also cause a shorter life cycle for your AC.
No matter what, the greater the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the more your energy bills will be. So, what can you do to stay cool and keep your utility bills low in the warm weather? 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
- Tweak Your Temperature. The DOE says that you can save up to 10% annually on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re away. In the hotter months, it’s recommended to set your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re out. It’s also important to avoid setting your thermostat to a lower setting than usual when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool your house any quicker, it just causes more expensive electric bills. While these temperatures could appear toasty, there are additional methods to keep cool without having to always run the AC.
- Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can lower AC by up to 14% during the course of the warmer months. It’s important to remember that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Also, keeping blinds lowered and curtains shut during the day helps keep chilled air inside. There are also some window solutions intended to deliver extra insulation and increase energy efficiency.
- Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings all across a home enable cooler air to quickly slip out and warm air to get within. This may result in your AC equipment having to work harder to keep your home cooler and your energy expenses to skyrocket. Make certain that any openings, doors and windows are adequately sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy mends for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
- Plan for Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your system is always running at its best. This permits our pro to identify simple issues before they turn into serious dilemmas. A well-kept AC is usually more efficient and may even last longer.
- Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the greatest approaches to guarantee comfort and cost-effectiveness is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adapts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works along with your smartphone to see when you’re home or out to optimize your energy efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 yearly on energy expenses.
- Consider Replacing Your AC Unit. You can figure a properly taken care of AC unit to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re often needing us for air conditioning repair or your energy costs are increasing with no fluctuations in thermostat settings, it could be time for a replacement. We carry many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.
Enhance Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with The Frazier Company
No one likes to see their utility bill rise during the summer. If you’re wanting more ways to keep your energy usage and costs lower this summer, our pros can help. Give us a call at 402-628-0206 or contact us online now for additional info.