As the heat rises, so does your AC expenses. To keep your AC bills controlled you may be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Georgetown?

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

Keeping your AC running all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and turning it down when you get back. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the work for you.

It’s significantly more laborious for your system to stay at the same setting for many hours. It can also lead to a lot of strain on your air conditioner, since it’s frequently turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it can also lead to a reduced life span for your air conditioner.

No matter what, the larger the difference between your home’s temperature and the outside temperature, the more your air conditioning expenses will be. So, what can you do to remain cool and keep your electric bills low in the warm weather? Here are our tips 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 says that you can conserve up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re away at work. During the summer, it’s recommended to keep 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 residence any sooner, it just causes bigger utility bills. While these temperatures might appear toasty, there are additional methods to keep cooler without having to always run the AC unit.
  2. Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says increasing the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lower AC by up to 14% over the course of the warm months. It’s important to note that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you leave the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Also, keeping blinds down and curtains drawn during the day helps keep chilled air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver extra insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a house let conditioned air to easily escape and warm air to get in. This can result in 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 close to windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Regular Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your AC is always performing at its most efficient. This permits our experts to find simple issues before they become major troubles. A clean air conditioner is typically more efficient and could even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Invest in a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to guarantee comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively adjusts the temperature based on your daily schedule. It works together with your smartphone to know when you’re at home or elsewhere to enhance your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 every year on energy costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can expect a properly taken care of AC unit to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are increasing with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for an upgrade. We offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, including ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without trading comfort.

Improve Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Miller Climate Control LLC

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 costs low this summer, our team can help. Reach us at 512-937-2001 or contact us online right away for more details.