As the temperature increases, so does your air conditioning expenses. To keep your air conditioning costs controlled you may be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Lodi?

It’s a common belief that turning your air conditioner on and off throughout the day is inefficient. This is actually not true.

Keeping your air conditioning going constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re out, and turning it down when you come home. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do the job for you.

It’s significantly more taxing for your system to achieve a constant temp throughout the day. It can also cause a lot of stress on your air conditioner, since it’s frequently turning on and off.

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

In any case, the greater the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your energy expenses will be. So, what can you do to remain cool and keep your utility bills low in the summer season? Here are our ideas based upon recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Approaches to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE states that you can conserve up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re out. Through the summer, it’s suggested to set your thermostat at 78 degrees at the time you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s additionally important to forgo setting your thermostat to a lower setting than normal when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool your house any faster, it just leads to bigger electric bills. While these temperatures may appear warm, there are a number of methods to keep cool without having to constantly run the air conditioner.
  2. Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says turning up the thermostat by only 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can decrease energy by up to 14% over the course of the cooling season. 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 for the duration of the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver extra insulation and improve energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks throughout a residence allow for conditioned air to rapidly escape and warmer air to get inside. This could cause your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your residence cooler and your energy bills to skyrocket. Make certain that any openings, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Plan for Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your air conditioner is always functioning at its most efficient. This lets our experts to find little issues before they result in significant dilemmas. A well-kept air conditioner is generally more efficient and might even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to assure comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your everyday schedule. It works along with your smartphone to see when you’re home or away to enhance your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 per year on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC. You can figure a properly cared for air conditioner to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your energy bills are increasing with no change in thermostat settings, it may be time for an upgrade. We offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, including ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without negotiating comfort.

Increase Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Tokay

No one wants to see their utility bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and bills down this summer, our team can help. Give us a call at 209-257-3156 or contact us online today for additional information.