As the heat goes up, so does your AC expenses. To keep your cooling bills under control you could be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Huntsville?

It’s a popular belief that turning your AC unit on and off throughout the day is inefficient. This is actually a myth.

Keeping your air conditioner running constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re out, and turning it back down when you come home. You can achieve this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat will do the job for you.

It’s far more taxing for your system to keep a consistent temp for many hours. It can also lead to a lot of stress on your equipment, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it can also result in a reduced life span for your AC unit.

In any case, the greater the difference between your indoor temperature and the outside temperature, the higher your air conditioning expenses will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your utility bills low in the summer season? 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 says that you can conserve up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re away at work. In the summer, it’s advised to position your thermostat at 78 degrees when you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s additionally important to avoid setting your thermostat to a colder setting than normal when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool your residence any quicker, it just leads to bigger utility bills. While these temperatures could appear warm, there are a number of methods to keep comfortable without having to always run the air conditioning.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says increasing the thermostat by just 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can lessen AC by up to 14% over the course of the cooling season. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Furthermore, keeping blinds down and curtains drawn during the day helps keep cool air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver additional insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a residence let conditioned air to easily slip out and warm air to get in. This can result in your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your home comfortable and your energy bills to increase. Make sure that any openings, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are quick fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Arrange Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your unit is always functioning at its most efficient. This lets our experts to spot small issues before they become major problems. A clean air conditioner is generally more efficient and can even run for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to ensure comfort and cost-effectiveness is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively adjusts the temperature based on your everyday schedule. It works along with your smartphone to see when you’re at your house or gone to enhance your energy efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 yearly on heating and cooling costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can anticipate a properly taken care of air conditioner to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your utility bills are skyrocketing with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for a new system. We offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, including ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without compromising comfort.

Enhance Your House’s Energy Efficiency with All Weather Heating & Air Conditioning Inc

No one likes to see their energy bill climb during the warmer months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and costs down this summer, our pros can help. Reach us at 256-801-4701 or contact us online now for extra details.