As the temp increases, so does your air conditioning costs. To keep your cooling expenses down you could be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Moline?

It’s a widespread belief that turning your AC unit on and off throughout the day is a waste of energy. This is actually a myth.

Keeping your AC going constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re away, and turning it down 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 a lot more laborious for your system to stay at a constant setting for many hours. It can also lead to a lot of wear and tear to your equipment, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it can also result in a reduced life span for your HVAC system.

In any case, the larger 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 remain cool and keep your energy bills low in the warm weather? Here are our ideas 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 turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees during the time you’re away at work. During the summer, it’s suggested to set 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 average when you turn on your air conditioner. This doesn’t actually cool your house any quicker, it just leads to bigger energy bills. While these temperatures might appear warm, there are many methods to keep cool without having to consistently run the air conditioning.
  2. Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says dialing up the thermostat by only 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lower AC by up to 14% over the course of the warmer months. It’s important to keep in mind that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Additionally, keeping blinds low and curtains shut throughout the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver extra insulation and improve energy efficiency.
  3. Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a residence let conditioned air to quickly escape and warmer air to get inside. This can cause your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your house comfortable and your AC bills to skyrocket. Make sure that any gaps, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
  4. Arrange Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your equipment is always running at its most efficient. This allows our professionals to find little issues before they become substantial dilemmas. A clean air conditioner is typically more efficient and may even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to guarantee comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively adjusts the temperature based on your everyday schedule. It works together with your smartphone to see when you’re at home or elsewhere to optimize your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 annually on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioning Unit. You can foresee a properly maintained AC unit to live 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 might 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 trading comfort.

Improve Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Freed Heating & Air Conditioning

No one enjoys seeing their air conditioning bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and costs lower this summer, our experts can help. Reach us at 309-323-9584 or contact us online now for more details.