As the heat increases, so does your AC expenses. To keep your cooling bills down you could be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Holdrege?

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

Keeping your air conditioner running constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend setting your thermostat higher when you’re out, and lowering it when you come back. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat will do the work for you.

It’s far more laborious for your system to achieve a consistent temperature all day long. It can also result in a lot of strain on your air conditioner, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

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

In any case, the greater 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 remain cool and keep your utility bills low in the summer season? Here are our suggestions based off of 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 affirms that you can conserve up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re out of the house. Through 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 forgo setting your thermostat to a cooler setting than normal when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool your home any faster, it just results in bigger utility bills. While these temperatures may appear high, there are additional methods to keep comfortable without having to always run the air conditioner.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says increasing the thermostat by only 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can lessen energy by up to 14% over the course of the summer. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not spaces. So, when you leave the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Furthermore, keeping blinds lowered and curtains closed during the day helps keep cool air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver additional insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a house let conditioned air to rapidly slip out and the heat to get inside. This could lead to your AC equipment having to work harder to keep your home cooler and your AC bills to skyrocket. Check that any cracks, doors and windows are adequately sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Regular Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your equipment is always functioning at its most efficient. This lets our pros to detect little issues before they become substantial dilemmas. A well-kept air conditioner is usually more efficient and can 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 automatically adjusts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works with your smartphone to know when you’re in your home or elsewhere to enhance your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 yearly on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC Unit. You can foresee a properly maintained air conditioner to last for 15-20 years. But if you’re frequently calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are climbing with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for an upgrade. We supply 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 Durable Service

No one enjoys seeing their utility bill climb during the summer season. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and bills lower this summer, our experts can help. Get in touch with us at 308-995-8177 or contact us online today for additional information.