As the heat goes up, so does your energy bills. To keep your AC costs under control you could be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Hodgenville?

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

Keeping your AC running constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise setting your thermostat higher when you’re away, and turning it back down when you come back. You can achieve this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the work for you.

It’s considerably more laborious for your system to achieve the same temperature for many hours. It can also result in a lot of wear and tear to your air conditioner, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

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

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

Six Ways to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Change Your Thermostat. The DOE says that you can conserve up to 10% annually on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees during the time you’re away at work. During the summer, it’s advised to position 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 lower setting than usual when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool your house any faster, it just results in bigger electric bills. While these temperatures could appear warm, there are many methods to keep comfortable without having to always run the air conditioner.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising the thermostat by only 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can decrease air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the warmer months. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you leave the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Furthermore, keeping blinds lowered and curtains drawn during the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver additional insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a house enable conditioned air to rapidly slip out and warm air to get within. This could result in your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your house cooler and your energy bills to increase. Make certain that any openings, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Regular Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your equipment is always running at its most efficient. This lets our experts to identify little issues before they turn into substantial troubles. A maintained air conditioner is usually more efficient and might even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the greatest methods to ensure comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works with your smartphone to notice when you’re home or elsewhere to enhance your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 yearly on heating and cooling costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC Unit. You can expect a properly taken care of air conditioner to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your utility bills are skyrocketing with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for a replacement. We offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.

Increase Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Phelps Heating & Cooling, Inc.

No one likes to see their energy bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and bills lower this summer, our experts can help. Get in touch with us at 270-358-3167 or contact us online now for more information.