As the temperature rises, so does your AC bills. To keep your air conditioning bills controlled you could be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Chatsworth?

It’s a widespread belief that turning your air conditioner on and off throughout the day is wasteful. This is actually false.

Keeping your air conditioning on all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend setting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and turning it down when you come home. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat will do the job for you.

It’s significantly more taxing for your system to achieve the same setting all day long. It can also lead to a lot of strain on your equipment, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it could also result in a shorter life cycle for your air conditioner.

No matter what, the larger the difference between your home’s temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your AC expenses will be. So, what can you do to stay cool and keep your utility bills low in the summer? Here are our suggestions based upon recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Ways to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE says that you can conserve up to 10% annually on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees during the time you’re away. In the summer, it’s suggested to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees when you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re out. It’s equally as important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a lower setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. This doesn’t actually cool off your residence any quicker, it just results in bigger utility bills. While these temperatures might appear high, there are additional methods to keep cool without having to always run the AC unit.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says turning up the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lessen air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the summer 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 be energy efficient. Also, keeping blinds low and curtains drawn throughout the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver added insulation and improve energy efficiency.
  3. Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a house enable conditioned air to rapidly escape and warmer air to get in. This could cause your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your house cooler and your AC bills to skyrocket. Make sure that any gaps, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Plan for Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your system is always performing at its most efficient. This permits our experts to find simple issues before they result in major troubles. A clean air conditioner is generally more efficient and can even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Invest in a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to ensure comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works along with your smartphone to sense when you’re at your house or gone to enhance your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 per year on heating and cooling costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can expect a properly maintained air conditioner to last for 15-20 years. But if you’re frequently calling us for air conditioning repair or your energy bills are climbing with no change in thermostat settings, it might be time for a replacement. We offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without negotiating comfort.

Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with True Temp Heating & Air Conditioning

No one enjoys seeing their electricity bill climb during the warmer months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and bills low this summer, our experts can help. Reach us at 706-695-7492 or contact us online now for additional details.