As the heat increases, so does your AC expenses. To keep your cooling bills low you might be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Frederick?

It’s a common belief that turning your air conditioner on and off throughout the day is inefficient. This is actually a misconception.

Keeping your AC running all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re out, and turning it down when you come home. You can achieve this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat will do the work for you.

It’s much more work for your system to stay at a consistent temperature for many hours. It can also cause a lot of stress on your air conditioner, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it can also cause a shortened life span for your air conditioner.

Regardless, the larger 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 stay cool and keep your energy bills low in the summer season? Here are our tips based on recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Methods to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE says that you can conserve up to 10% yearly on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re out of the house. During the summer, it’s advised to set your thermostat at 78 degrees at the time you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s also important to forgo setting your thermostat to a cooler setting than average when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool your home any quicker, it just results in bigger energy bills. While these temperatures might appear high, there are many methods to keep comfortable without having to constantly run the AC unit.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says dialing up the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lessen AC by up to 14% over the course of the summer. It’s important to keep in mind 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 shut throughout the day helps keep cool air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver extra insulation and enhance energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a home enable conditioned air to easily escape and warm air to get inside. This may result in your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your residence cool and your utility bills to rise. Check that any gaps, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
  4. Arrange Regular Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your AC is always functioning at its most efficient. This permits our experts to locate simple issues before they result in serious troubles. A well-kept air conditioner is typically more efficient and could even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to ensure comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively adjusts the temperature based on your everyday schedule. It works together with your smartphone to know when you’re home or away to maximize your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 every year on energy costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioning Unit. You can foresee a properly maintained air conditioner to run 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 may be time for an upgrade. We offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.

Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with May's Heating & Air

No one likes to see their air conditioning bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and costs down this summer, our professionals can help. Reach us at 301-690-0397 or contact us online now for additional info.