As the temperature rises, so does your AC costs. To keep your cooling costs down you may be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Delray Beach?

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

Keeping your AC on constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re out, and lowering it when you come back. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do the work for you.

It’s a lot more taxing for your system to achieve a consistent temperature for many hours. It can also result in a lot of wear and tear to your equipment, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your energy bills, it could also cause a shortened life span for your AC.

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

Six Approaches to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Adjust Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms that you can conserve up to 10% annually on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re out of the house. Through the summer, it’s recommended to set your thermostat at 78 degrees when you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s also important to forgo setting your thermostat to a colder setting than usual when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool off your residence any sooner, it just leads to bigger electric bills. While these temperatures could appear warm, there are a number of methods to keep cooler without having to always run the AC.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says turning up the thermostat by only 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can lessen air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the summer. It’s important to remember that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Furthermore, keeping blinds down and curtains drawn during the day helps keep conditioned air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver additional insulation and boost energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks throughout a residence enable conditioned air to rapidly get out and the heat to get inside. This could lead to your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your home cool and your AC bills to increase. Make certain that any cracks, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your system is always performing at its most efficient. This allows our experts to identify simple issues before they result in substantial troubles. A well-kept air conditioner is typically more efficient and might even run for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to ensure comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your daily schedule. It works with your smartphone to sense when you’re home or out to enhance your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 yearly on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioning Unit. You can expect a properly cared for air conditioner to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are increasing with no change in thermostat settings, it might be time for an upgrade. We carry many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without compromising comfort.

Improve Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Kilbourne Heating & AC

No one likes to see their air conditioning bill climb during the summer season. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and costs low this summer, our pros can help. Reach us at 561-287-7071 or contact us online now for additional details.