As the temp goes up, so does your AC expenses. To keep your AC costs down you may be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Carson City?

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

Keeping your air conditioner going constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re away, and turning it back down when you return. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do the work for you.

It’s significantly more taxing for your system to keep a consistent temp for many hours. It can also cause a lot of wear and tear to your equipment, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

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

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

Six Approaches to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Adjust 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 during the time you’re out of the house. 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 equally as important to forgo setting your thermostat to a cooler setting than normal when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool down your home any faster, it just causes bigger electric bills. While these temperatures may appear toasty, there are a number of methods to keep comfortable without having to constantly run the AC unit.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising 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 cooling season. It’s important to remember that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you leave the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Also, keeping blinds down and curtains drawn during the day helps keep conditioned air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver added insulation and boost energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a house enable conditioned air to easily slip out and warm air to get inside. This could cause your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your residence comfortable and your energy bills to skyrocket. Make sure that any gaps, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Arrange Regular Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your system is always functioning at its most efficient. This allows our experts to identify little issues before they turn into serious dilemmas. A maintained air conditioner is typically more efficient and could even run for a longer period of time.
  5. Upgrade to 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 day-to-day schedule. It works along with your smartphone to notice when you’re at your house or out to maximize your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 per year on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can figure a properly taken care of air conditioner to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are climbing with no change in thermostat settings, it may be time for a replacement. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without negotiating comfort.

Enhance Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Anderson Heating & A/C

No one enjoys seeing their utility bill climb during the summer season. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy consumption and expenses down this summer, our team can help. Reach us at 775-230-7628 or contact us online right away for more details.