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

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

Keeping your air conditioner going all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise setting your thermostat higher when you’re away, and turning it down when you return. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do the work for you.

It’s much more work for your system to achieve a consistent temperature all day long. It can also result in a lot of wear and tear to your air conditioner, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it can also cause a reduced life expectancy for your air conditioner.

In any case, the larger the difference between your indoor temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your energy expenses will be. So, what can you do to stay cool and keep your energy bills low in the summer season? Here are our ideas based off of recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Methods to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms 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 out of the house. Through the summer, it’s advised to set your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re out. It’s equally as important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a lower setting than usual when you turn on your air conditioner. This doesn’t actually cool your house any quicker, it just leads to bigger utility bills. While these temperatures may appear toasty, there are a number of methods to keep comfortable without having to consistently run the AC.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says dialing up the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can lessen energy by up to 14% over the course of the cooling season. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Additionally, keeping blinds down and curtains drawn for the duration of the day helps keep cool air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver added insulation and improve energy efficiency.
  3. Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a house let conditioned air to easily slip out and the heat to get within. This could lead to your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your house cooler and your AC bills to climb. Make sure 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. Schedule Regular Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your system is always functioning at its most efficient. This allows our professionals to find little issues before they become substantial troubles. A clean air conditioner is usually more efficient and may even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to assure comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature based on your daily schedule. It works along with your smartphone to know when you’re in your home or elsewhere to maximize your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR states 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 figure a properly maintained AC to live 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 may be time for a new system. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without compromising comfort.

Improve Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Watts Electric & AC

No one enjoys seeing their air conditioning bill climb during the summer season. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and bills down this summer, our professionals can help. Give us a call at 601-736-7362 or contact us online today for more info.