As the temp rises, so does your energy bills. To keep your AC costs down you may be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Carpentersville?

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

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

It’s significantly more laborious for your system to stay at a consistent setting for many hours. It can also cause a lot of strain on your air conditioner, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it could also cause a shorter life cycle for your AC unit.

Regardless, the greater the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your AC expenses will be. So, what can you do to stay cool and keep your electric bills low in the summer? Here are our ideas based upon 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 while you’re out of the house. During the summer, it’s suggested to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re elsewhere. It’s also important to avoid setting your thermostat to a colder setting than usual when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool off your residence any sooner, it just causes bigger energy bills. While these temperatures may appear toasty, there are a number of methods to keep comfortable without having to constantly run the AC.
  2. Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising the thermostat by only 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can lessen air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the summer. It’s important to keep in mind that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you leave the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Additionally, keeping blinds low and curtains drawn throughout the day helps keep conditioned air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver additional insulation and improve energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks throughout a residence allow for conditioned air to rapidly get out and warm air to get within. This could cause your AC equipment having to work harder to keep your home cooler and your AC bills to increase. Check that any cracks, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your air conditioner is always functioning at its most efficient. This allows our experts to detect little issues before they become substantial dilemmas. A well-kept air conditioner is usually more efficient and can even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to ensure comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works along with your smartphone to see when you’re home or gone to enhance your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 per year on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioning Unit. You can foresee a properly taken care of AC to last for 15-20 years. But if you’re frequently calling us for air conditioning repair or your energy bills are increasing with no change in thermostat settings, it might be time for an upgrade. We carry many energy-efficient air conditioners, including ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without trading comfort.

Increase Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Controlled Comfort HVAC

No one enjoys seeing their energy bill climb during the warmer months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and expenses low this summer, our professionals can help. Give us a call at 224-412-8308 or contact us online today for additional details.