As the heat increases, so does your AC expenses. To keep your air conditioning bills low you could be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Fredericksburg?

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

Keeping your air conditioner on all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re elsewhere, and lowering it when you get back. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat will do everything for you.

It’s a lot more laborious for your system to keep a consistent temperature throughout the day. It can also cause a lot of stress on your air conditioner, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it might also lead to a shorter life span for your AC.

No matter what, the bigger the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your air conditioning expenses will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your electric bills low in the warm weather? Here are our suggestions based upon recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Methods to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Modify Your Thermostat. The DOE says that you can conserve up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re out. In the summer, it’s recommended 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 abstain from setting your thermostat to a colder setting than normal when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool down your home any quicker, it just leads to bigger utility bills. While these temperatures could appear toasty, there are additional methods to keep cooler without having to constantly run the AC unit.
  2. Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can lower air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the summer season. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Also, keeping blinds low and curtains drawn during the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver extra insulation and boost energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks throughout a house permit conditioned air to easily get out and warmer air to get inside. This could cause your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your residence cool and your utility bills to rise. Check that any gaps, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Plan for Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your air conditioner is always running at its most efficient. This allows our experts to spot simple issues before they result in serious dilemmas. A clean air conditioner is generally more efficient and may even run for a longer period of time.
  5. Invest in a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to assure comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively adjusts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works together with your smartphone to sense when you’re in your home or elsewhere to optimize your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 per year on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC. You can foresee a properly maintained AC to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your energy bills are skyrocketing with no change in thermostat settings, it might be time for an upgrade. We offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, including ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.

Enhance Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Childress Heating & AC

No one likes to see their utility bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and costs down this summer, our professionals can help. Get in touch with us at 540-675-4306 or contact us online now for additional details.