As the heat rises, so does your air conditioning costs. To keep your cooling bills low you may be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Des Moines?
It’s a popular belief that turning your AC on and off throughout the day is inefficient. This is actually false.
Keeping your air conditioner going constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise setting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and lowering it when you come back. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do the work for you.
It’s much more laborious for your system to stay at a constant temp for many hours. It can also cause 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 could also lead to a shorter life span for your HVAC system.
Regardless, the bigger the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your energy costs will be. So, what can you do to remain cool and keep your utility bills down in the warm weather? Here are our ideas based on recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.
6 Methods to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency
- Tweak Your Temperature. The DOE states that you can spend up to 10% less yearly on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re out. Through the hotter months, it’s advised to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees at the time you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s additionally important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a cooler setting than usual when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool down your residence any faster, it just causes more expensive energy expenses. While these temperatures may appear warm, there are a number of methods to keep cool without having to consistently run the AC unit.
- Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says dialing up the thermostat by just 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lower air conditioning costs by up to 14% during the course of the cooling season. It’s important to note that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Additionally, keeping blinds down and curtains drawn during the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window solutions made to deliver added insulation and boost energy efficiency.
- Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a home permit cool air to quickly escape and the heat to get in. This could cause your air conditioner needing to work harder to keep your house cooler and your AC costs to rise. Make sure that any gaps, doors and windows are adequately sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
- Schedule Annual Checkups. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your equipment is always performing at its most efficient. This permits our professionals to identify little issues before they turn into major dilemmas. A maintained air conditioner is typically more efficient and might even run for a greater period of time.
- Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to assure comfort and cost-effectiveness is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adapts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works along with your smartphone to sense when you’re at your house or away to enhance your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 per year on heating and cooling costs.
- Consider Replacing Your AC Unit. You can anticipate a properly maintained AC unit to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your energy expenses are increasing with no shifts in thermostat settings, it could be time for a replacement. We supply numerous energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without negotiating comfort.
Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Heartland Heating & Cooling
No one likes to see their air conditioning bill climb during the warm months. If you’re seeking more ways to keep your energy use and expenses down this summer, our team can help. Give us a call at 515-344-3579 or contact us online today for additional info.