As the heat goes up, so does your AC costs. To keep your AC bills under control you may be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Derby?

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

Keeping your air conditioning on all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re elsewhere, and turning it down when you come home. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do everything for you.

It’s significantly more work for your system to achieve a constant setting throughout the day. It can also cause a lot of wear and tear to your air conditioner, since it’s frequently turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it might also result in a reduced life expectancy for your AC.

No matter what, the larger the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your AC expenses will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your utility bills low in the summer season? Here are our tips based upon recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Methods to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Adjust Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms that you can conserve up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees during the time you’re out of the house. In the summer, it’s recommended to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees at the time you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re out. It’s additionally important to forgo setting your thermostat to a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. This doesn’t actually cool off your house any sooner, it just causes bigger electric bills. While these temperatures could appear warm, there are many methods to keep comfortable without having to consistently run the air conditioner.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising the thermostat by only 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lessen air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the warm months. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Also, keeping blinds down and curtains closed during the day helps keep conditioned air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver added insulation and improve energy efficiency.
  3. Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks throughout a house permit conditioned air to quickly slip out and the heat to get within. This may cause your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your house comfortable and your utility bills to skyrocket. Make sure that any gaps, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Plan for Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your equipment is always performing at its most efficient. This lets our experts to detect little issues before they turn into serious problems. A maintained air conditioner is usually more efficient and may even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to guarantee comfort and cost-effectiveness is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature based on your everyday schedule. It works together with your smartphone to sense when you’re at home or out to enhance your energy efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 every year on energy costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC. You can figure a properly taken care of air conditioner to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are skyrocketing with no change in thermostat settings, it may be time for an upgrade. We carry many energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.

Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Giordanos Heating and Air Conditioning

No one wants to see their utility bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and costs down this summer, our pros can help. Reach us at 203-772-8319 or contact us online right away for extra details.