As the temperature rises, so does your air conditioning bills. To keep your cooling expenses low you might be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Neptune City?

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

Keeping your air conditioning on all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend setting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and turning it back down when you come home. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the work for you.

It’s significantly more taxing for your system to stay at the same temp for many hours. It can also lead to a lot of strain on your system, since it’s frequently turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it might also result in a reduced life expectancy for your AC.

No matter what, the larger the difference between your indoor temperature and the outside temperature, the higher your AC expenses will be. So, what can you do to stay cool and keep your utility bills low in the summer? Here are our ideas based off of recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Approaches to Enhance 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 away. During the summer, it’s recommended to set your thermostat at 78 degrees when you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re elsewhere. It’s additionally important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a lower setting than average when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool down your home any sooner, it just causes bigger energy bills. While these temperatures may appear toasty, there are many methods to keep cooler without having to constantly run the AC.
  2. Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says dialing up the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can decrease air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the summer season. It’s important to note that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Additionally, keeping blinds low and curtains closed throughout the day helps keep conditioned air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver added insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a house enable conditioned air to rapidly get out and warm air to get within. This may result in your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your house cool and your utility bills to rise. Check that any cracks, 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 makes sure your system is always running at its most efficient. This permits our experts to locate simple issues before they become major problems. A maintained air conditioner is typically more efficient and can even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to ensure comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature based on your everyday schedule. It works with your smartphone to sense when you’re at your house or gone to optimize your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 yearly on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioning Unit. You can figure a properly maintained AC unit 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 could 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 compromising comfort.

Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Aggressive Mechanical

No one likes to see their electricity bill climb during the summer. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and costs lower this summer, our team can help. Give us a call at 732-806-5536 or contact us online today for extra info.