As the temp goes up, so does your energy costs. To keep your air conditioning expenses low you may be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Manassas?
It’s a common belief that turning your AC unit on and off throughout the day is a waste of energy. This is actually false.
Keeping your air conditioner on constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise setting your thermostat higher when you’re out, and turning it down when you come home. You can do 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 achieve a consistent temperature for many hours. It can also cause a lot of strain on your equipment, since it’s constantly turning on and off.
So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it could also lead to a reduced life expectancy for your HVAC system.
No matter what, the larger the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your AC bills will be. So, what can you do to remain cool and keep your utility bills low in the hot weather? Here are our ideas based off of recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.
6 Methods to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency
- Change Your Thermostat. The DOE states that you can spend up to 10% less per year on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees during the time you’re out of the house. In the summer, it’s advised 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 abstain from setting your thermostat to a cooler setting than usual when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool your home any faster, it just causes higher utility bills. While these temperatures may appear toasty, there are many approaches to keep cooler without having to consistently run the AC unit.
- Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says turning up the thermostat by just 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can lower AC by up to 14% during the course of the cooling season. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not spaces. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Additionally, keeping blinds down and curtains closed for the duration of the day helps keep conditioned air in. There are also some window solutions meant to deliver additional insulation and improve energy efficiency.
- Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings all across a home let cool air to quickly escape and warm air to get in. This could result in your AC being required to work harder to keep your residence cooler and your AC bills to rise. Make certain that any cracks, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple mends for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
- Arrange Routine Tune-Ups. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your AC is always running at its most energy efficient. This permits our pro to detect little issues before they become major troubles. A maintained air conditioner is typically more efficient and can even live for a longer period of time.
- Invest in a Smart Thermostat. One of the greatest approaches to assure comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively changes the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works along with your smartphone to see when you’re in your home or gone to optimize your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 per year on energy bills.
- Consider Replacing Your AC Unit. You can expect an adequately cared for AC unit to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your energy costs are increasing with no shifts in thermostat settings, it might 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 trading comfort.
Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Woody's Sudden Service Inc
No one enjoys seeing their air conditioning bill rise during the summer season. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and costs down this summer, our pros can help. Give us a call at 703-278-2036 or contact us online today for additional details.