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

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

Keeping your AC running all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise 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 is able to do the work for you.

It’s a lot more laborious for your system to achieve a constant temperature all day long. It can also result in a lot of strain on your equipment, since it’s frequently turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it can also cause a reduced life span 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 energy bills low in the warm weather? Here are our suggestions based off of recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Methods to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms that you can conserve up to 10% annually on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees during the time you’re away. During the summer, it’s recommended to set your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s equally as important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a lower setting than usual when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool down your house any faster, it just results in bigger energy bills. While these temperatures could appear toasty, there are many methods to keep cooler without having to consistently run the air conditioner.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says turning up the thermostat by just 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can lessen AC by up to 14% over the course of the summer season. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you leave the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Additionally, keeping blinds lowered and curtains closed during the day helps keep cool air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver additional insulation and improve energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a house enable conditioned air to quickly get out and the heat to get inside. This could result in your AC equipment having to work harder to keep your residence comfortable and your utility bills to rise. Make certain that any cracks, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your unit is always performing at its most efficient. This allows our pros to detect small issues before they turn into significant troubles. A clean air conditioner is usually more efficient and may even run for a longer period of time.
  5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to ensure comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature based on your everyday schedule. It works together with your smartphone to see when you’re home or out to maximize your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 yearly on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can anticipate a properly maintained air conditioner to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re frequently calling us for air conditioning repair or your utility bills are climbing with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for an upgrade. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.

Enhance Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with MPC Heating & Cooling

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 low this summer, our experts can help. Give us a call at 308-832-4321 or contact us online right away for additional details.