As the temp rises, so does your air conditioning expenses. To keep your cooling bills controlled you may be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Kankakee?

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

Keeping your AC on constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re out, and turning it down when you come back. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the job for you.

It’s significantly more laborious for your system to keep a constant temperature throughout the day. It can also cause a lot of wear and tear to your equipment, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it can also lead to a shorter life expectancy for your HVAC system.

Regardless, the larger the difference between your home’s temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your AC expenses will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your energy bills low in the summer? Here are our tips 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. Change Your Thermostat. The DOE says that you can conserve up to 10% yearly on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re out. During the summer, it’s recommended to position your thermostat at 78 degrees at the time you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re out. It’s additionally important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a lower setting than average when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool your home any sooner, it just causes bigger electric bills. While these temperatures could appear toasty, there are a number of methods to keep comfortable without having to always run the air conditioning.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising the thermostat by just 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lower air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the warm months. It’s important to note that fans cool people, not spaces. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Additionally, keeping blinds lowered and curtains closed during the day helps keep chilled air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver additional insulation and boost energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a house permit conditioned air to easily escape and warm air to get in. This could lead to your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your home cool and your AC bills to increase. Check that any cracks, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
  4. Plan for Regular Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your unit is always performing at its most efficient. This lets our experts to identify simple issues before they result in major problems. A clean air conditioner is typically more efficient and might even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to guarantee comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works together with your smartphone to notice when you’re at your house or gone to enhance your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 yearly on energy costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioning Unit. You can expect a properly maintained AC unit to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re frequently calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are climbing with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for a replacement. We carry many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without trading comfort.

Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating

No one likes to see their electricity bill climb during the warmer months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and expenses lower this summer, our team can help. Give us a call at 815-933-8213 or contact us online right away for additional information.