As the temp goes up, so does your air conditioning bills. To keep your cooling bills under control you might be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Buellton?

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

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

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

So, on top of it increasing your energy bills, it can also result in a reduced life expectancy for your HVAC system.

No matter what, the greater the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your air conditioning expenses will be. So, what can you do to stay cool and keep your energy bills low in the hot weather? Here are our ideas based upon recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Methods to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE states that you can conserve up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re out of the house. Through the summer, it’s advised to position your thermostat at 78 degrees while 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 usual when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool down your house any faster, it just causes bigger utility bills. While these temperatures may appear high, there are additional methods to keep comfortable without having to always run the air conditioning.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says increasing the thermostat by just 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lower AC by up to 14% over the course of the summer. It’s important to remember that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Also, keeping blinds lowered and curtains shut for the duration of the day helps keep cool air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver added insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a residence allow for conditioned air to easily escape and warmer air to get in. This can cause your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your home cooler and your AC bills to rise. Check that any cracks, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are quick fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Arrange Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your system is always functioning at its most efficient. This lets our experts to locate simple issues before they become serious troubles. A clean air conditioner is usually more efficient and might even run for a longer period of time.
  5. Invest in a Smart Thermostat. One of the greatest methods to guarantee comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your daily schedule. It works together with your smartphone to notice when you’re in your home or away to maximize your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 every year on heating and cooling costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC Unit. You can anticipate a properly cared for AC to last for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your energy bills are rising with no change in thermostat settings, it may 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.

Increase Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning

No one enjoys seeing their electricity bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and costs lower this summer, our experts can help. Get in touch with us at 805-242-9638 or contact us online right away for extra details.