As the heat goes up, so does your air conditioning expenses. To keep your cooling costs low you may be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Lincoln?

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

Keeping your air conditioner going constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend setting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and lowering it when you come home. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the job for you.

It’s a lot more taxing for your system to stay at a consistent temperature throughout the day. It can also cause 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 utility bills, it can also cause a shorter life span for your AC unit.

Regardless, the greater the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the higher your energy expenses will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your electric bills low in the summer? Here are our suggestions based upon recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Approaches to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Adjust Your Thermostat. The DOE says that you can conserve up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re away. During the summer, it’s advised to position your thermostat at 78 degrees at the time you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s also important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a lower setting than average when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool down your house any sooner, it just causes bigger energy bills. While these temperatures might appear high, there are a number of methods to keep comfortable without having to always run the AC unit.
  2. Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says dialing up the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can decrease AC by up to 14% over the course of the summer. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Furthermore, keeping blinds lowered and curtains drawn throughout the day helps keep cool air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver added insulation and improve energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks throughout a residence let conditioned air to rapidly escape and the heat to get inside. This may lead to your AC equipment having to work harder to keep your residence cool and your AC bills to climb. Make sure that any gaps, doors and windows are adequately sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Arrange Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your AC is always performing at its most efficient. This lets our experts to find little issues before they result in major troubles. A maintained air conditioner is usually more efficient and may even last for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to ensure comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively adjusts the temperature based on your everyday schedule. It works along with your smartphone to see when you’re at your house or elsewhere to optimize your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 annually on energy costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioning Unit. You can anticipate a properly maintained AC to last 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 a replacement. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.

Improve Your House’s Energy Efficiency with AW Heating & Air Conditioning

No one wants to see their air conditioning bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and expenses low this summer, our pros can help. Give us a call at 402-438-7992 or contact us online now for extra details.