As the temperature goes up, so does your AC bills. To keep your AC bills under control you may be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Manassas?

It’s a popular belief that turning your air conditioner on and off throughout the day is inefficient. This is actually false.

Keeping your air conditioning going all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend setting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and turning it back down 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 laborious for your system to stay at a constant setting throughout the day. It can also lead to a lot of wear and tear to your equipment, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it can also cause a reduced life cycle for your air conditioner.

No matter what, the larger the difference between your house’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 electric 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®.

Six Approaches to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Change Your Thermostat. The DOE states that you can conserve up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re away. Through the summer, it’s recommended to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees when you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s additionally important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a lower setting than normal when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool down your house any sooner, it just causes bigger energy bills. While these temperatures might appear high, there are additional methods to keep cool without having to always run the AC.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says turning up the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can lower air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the warm months. It’s important to remember that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Furthermore, keeping blinds low and curtains shut throughout the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver additional insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a residence enable conditioned air to quickly slip out and warm air to get within. This could cause your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your home cooler and your energy bills to increase. Make certain that any gaps, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are quick fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your AC is always performing at its most efficient. This allows our experts to spot simple issues before they result in significant dilemmas. A maintained air conditioner is typically more efficient and may even last for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to guarantee comfort and cost-effectiveness is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works together with your smartphone to see when you’re at home or away to optimize your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 annually on energy costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC. 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 energy bills are increasing with no change in thermostat settings, it may be time for a new system. We carry many energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without compromising comfort.

Increase Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Woody's Sudden Service

No one likes to see their air conditioning bill climb during the summer season. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy consumption and bills low this summer, our experts can help. Get in touch with us at 703-278-2036 or contact us online now for extra info.