As the heat increases, so does your air conditioning expenses. To keep your cooling bills down you could be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Milledgeville and Middle Georgia?

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

Keeping your air conditioner on all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and turning it down when you return. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do the work for you.

It’s far more laborious for your system to keep the same setting for many hours. It can also result in a lot of strain on your equipment, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your energy bills, it can also result in a shorter life cycle for your HVAC system.

Regardless, 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 keep cool and keep your electric bills low in the hot weather? Here are our ideas based upon recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Methods to Boost 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 during the time you’re away at work. In the summer, it’s suggested to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees at the time you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re elsewhere. It’s equally as important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a lower setting than normal when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool your residence any sooner, it just leads to bigger energy bills. While these temperatures may appear toasty, there are a number of methods to keep cooler without having to constantly run the AC unit.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising the thermostat by only 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lessen AC by up to 14% over the course of the warmer months. It’s important to note that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you leave the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Additionally, keeping blinds low and curtains shut throughout the day helps keep chilled air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver extra insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a home allow for conditioned air to rapidly get out and warm air to get inside. This could lead to your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your residence cool and your energy bills to increase. Make sure that any gaps, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Plan for Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your AC is always functioning at its most efficient. This lets our experts to locate little issues before they become significant 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 cost-effectiveness is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your everyday schedule. It works with your smartphone to see when you’re at your house or out to optimize your energy efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 every year on heating and cooling costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC Unit. You can expect a properly taken care of AC to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your energy bills are skyrocketing with no change in thermostat settings, it might be time for an upgrade. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, including ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without negotiating comfort.

Improve Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Air Concepts of Middle Georgia

No one likes to see their air conditioning bill climb during the warmer months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and costs low this summer, our experts can help. Get in touch with us at 478-200-5689 or contact us online today for more details.