As the heat rises, so does your AC expenses. To keep your cooling bills under control you could be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Auburn?

It’s a popular belief that turning your air conditioner on and off throughout the day is a waste of energy. This is actually false.

Keeping your air conditioning going 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 return. You can achieve this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the job for you.

It’s far more laborious for your system to keep the same setting throughout the day. It can also cause a lot of strain on your equipment, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it can also cause a shorter life span for your AC.

In any case, the larger the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the higher your AC expenses will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your electric 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 Approaches to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Adjust Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms 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. Through the summer, it’s suggested to position 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 colder setting than normal when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool your house any quicker, it just leads to bigger energy bills. While these temperatures may appear warm, there are additional methods to keep cool without having to constantly run the air conditioning.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lessen AC by up to 14% over the course of the summer season. It’s important to keep in mind that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Additionally, keeping blinds low and curtains shut for the duration of the day helps keep cool air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver extra insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a home permit conditioned air to quickly escape and warm air to get in. This can cause your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your residence comfortable and your AC bills to increase. Make sure that any cracks, doors and windows are adequately sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are quick fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Arrange Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your air conditioner is always running at its most efficient. This permits our professionals to find little issues before they result in significant problems. A clean air conditioner is typically more efficient and could even last 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 intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works along with your smartphone to see when you’re in your home or elsewhere to optimize your energy efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 annually on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC. You can figure a properly cared for AC unit to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re frequently calling us for air conditioning repair or your energy bills are skyrocketing with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for a new system. We offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, including ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without trading comfort.

Increase Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Forster Heating

No one wants to see their energy bill climb during the summer. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and expenses down this summer, our pros can help. Give us a call at 530-885-8081 or contact us online right away for additional details.