As the temperature increases, so does your AC costs. To keep your cooling expenses under control you may be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Manassas?
It’s a widespread belief that turning your AC unit on and off throughout the day is inefficient. This is actually false.
Keeping your AC running all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re away, and lowering it when you come home. You can achieve 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 constant temperature throughout the day. It can also lead to a lot of wear and tear to your air conditioner, since it’s constantly turning on and off.
So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it might also cause a shortened life expectancy for your HVAC system.
In any case, the greater the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the more your AC expenses will be. So, what can you do to remain cool and keep your utility bills down in the summer? Here are our tips based on recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.
6 Ways to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency
- Tweak Your Temperature. The DOE states that you can spend up to 10% less annually on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re away at work. Through the hotter months, it’s advised to set your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re out. It’s also important to forgo setting your thermostat to a cooler setting than normal when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool off your house any sooner, it just results in bigger energy expenses. While these temperatures could seem warm, there are many approaches to keep cooler without having to constantly run the air conditioner.
- Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says dialing up the thermostat by only 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can decrease energy by up to 14% throughout the summer. It’s important to remember that fans cool people, not spaces. So, when you leave the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Also, keeping blinds lowered and curtains closed throughout the day helps keep cooler air indoors. There are also some window treatments meant to deliver added insulation and improve energy efficiency.
- Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps all around a residence enable cool air to easily escape and warmer air to get in. This may lead to your AC having to work harder to keep your house cooler and your energy expenses to rise. Make certain that any openings, doors and windows are adequately sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
- Schedule Regular Checkups. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your system is always running at its best. This allows our professionals to find little issues before they result in substantial troubles. A maintained AC unit is generally more efficient and can even live longer.
- Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the best ways to ensure comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively changes the temperature based on your everyday schedule. It works along with your smartphone to sense when you’re home or out to enhance your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 annually on energy costs.
- Consider Replacing Your AC Unit. You can expect an adequately cared for AC to last for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly contacting us for air conditioning repair or your utility bills are rising with no shifts in thermostat settings, it could be time for a replacement. We supply a number of energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without compromising comfort.
Enhance Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Air-Right Energy Design, Inc.
No one likes to see their electricity bill rise during the summer season. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy consumption and expenses down this summer, our professionals can help. Get in touch with us at 703-260-1148 or contact us online right away for extra details.