As the heat increases, so does your air conditioning bills. To keep your AC costs under control you might be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Lodi?

It’s a common belief that turning your AC unit on and off throughout the day is a waste of energy. This is actually a misconception.

Keeping your air conditioner running all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re out, and lowering it when you come back. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat will do the job for you.

It’s considerably more taxing for your system to stay at a consistent temperature all day long. It can also result in a lot of strain on your air conditioner, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it may also cause a reduced life cycle for your AC unit.

No matter what, the larger the difference between your home’s temperature and the outside temperature, the more your air conditioning expenses will be. So, what can you do to stay cool and keep your energy bills low in the warm weather? Here are our ideas based on recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Methods to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms that you can conserve up to 10% yearly on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re out. Through the summer, it’s recommended to keep 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 lower setting than average when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool off your house any faster, it just leads to bigger energy bills. While these temperatures might appear warm, there are a number of methods to keep cool without having to always run the AC.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says increasing the thermostat by only 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 keep in mind that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Also, keeping blinds down and curtains drawn for the duration of the day helps keep cool air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver extra insulation and improve energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a home enable conditioned air to rapidly slip out and the heat to get inside. This can result in your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your home cooler and your energy bills to increase. Check that any gaps, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
  4. Plan for Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your equipment is always running at its most efficient. This lets our pros to spot little issues before they result in serious problems. A well-kept air conditioner is generally more efficient and may even last for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to ensure comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your everyday schedule. It works with your smartphone to know when you’re in your home or gone to enhance your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 yearly on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC Unit. You can foresee a properly cared for air conditioner to last for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your utility bills are skyrocketing with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for a replacement. We offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, including ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without negotiating comfort.

Improve Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Tokay

No one enjoys seeing their electricity bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy consumption and costs low this summer, our professionals can help. Reach us at 209-257-3156 or contact us online today for extra information.