As the temperature rises, so does your air conditioning costs. To keep your AC expenses controlled you may be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Lexington?

It’s a widespread belief that turning your air conditioner on and off throughout the day is wasteful. This is actually a myth.

Keeping your AC on constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re away, and lowering it when you get back. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the work for you.

It’s a lot more laborious for your system to stay at the same setting throughout the day. It can also result in a lot of wear and tear to your air conditioner, since it’s frequently turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it may also lead to a reduced life expectancy for your HVAC system.

Regardless, the greater the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the higher your energy expenses will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your energy bills low in the warm weather? Here are our ideas 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. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms that you can conserve up to 10% yearly on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re away. Through the summer, it’s advised to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees at the time you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re out. It’s equally as important to forgo setting your thermostat to a colder setting than normal when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool your house any quicker, it just leads to bigger energy bills. While these temperatures could appear high, there are many methods to keep cooler without having to always run the air conditioning.
  2. Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says dialing up the thermostat by just 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can decrease energy by up to 14% over the course of the warm months. It’s important to note that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Furthermore, keeping blinds down and curtains shut for the duration of the day helps keep chilled air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver extra insulation and boost energy efficiency.
  3. Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a home permit conditioned air to quickly escape and warmer air to get inside. This could result in your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your residence cooler and your AC bills to skyrocket. Make sure that any gaps, doors and windows are adequately sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your air conditioner is always performing at its most efficient. This permits our professionals to identify little issues before they result in major dilemmas. A clean air conditioner is typically more efficient and could even last for a longer period of time.
  5. Invest in a Smart Thermostat. One of the greatest methods to ensure comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works along with your smartphone to notice when you’re at home or elsewhere to enhance your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 yearly on heating and cooling costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioning Unit. You can foresee a properly cared for air conditioner to run 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 could be time for a new system. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without compromising comfort.

Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with James Heating & A/C, Inc

No one wants to see their electricity bill climb during the summer. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy consumption and bills lower this summer, our team can help. Give us a call at 336-853-6070 or contact us online now for extra details.