As the heat increases, so does your energy bills. To keep your cooling bills low you could be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Longview?

It’s a common belief that turning your air conditioner on and off throughout the day is wasteful. This is actually false.

Keeping your air conditioning going all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re away, and turning it back down when you get back. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat will do the job for you.

It’s considerably more work for your system to keep a consistent setting for many hours. It can also cause a lot of stress on your system, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it might also cause a shortened life expectancy for your AC.

No matter what, the larger the difference between your indoor 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 summer? Here are our suggestions 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. Modify Your Thermostat. The DOE states that you can conserve up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re out of the house. Through the summer, it’s advised to position your thermostat at 78 degrees at the time you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re elsewhere. It’s additionally important to forgo setting your thermostat to a lower setting than normal when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool off your residence any faster, it just causes bigger electric bills. While these temperatures might appear high, there are many methods to keep cooler without having to consistently run the AC.
2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says dialing up the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can decrease air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the cooling season. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not spaces. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Also, keeping blinds down and curtains closed 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. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a house permit conditioned air to quickly slip out and the heat to get within. This may lead to your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your home cool and your utility bills to climb. Make sure that any gaps, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
4. Schedule Regular Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your unit is always performing at its most efficient. This lets our professionals to spot little issues before they result in serious troubles. A well-kept air conditioner is typically more efficient and might even run for a longer period of time.
5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the greatest methods to guarantee comfort and cost-effectiveness is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively adjusts the temperature based on your everyday schedule. It works along with your smartphone to sense when you’re at home or away to optimize your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 yearly on heating and cooling costs.
6. Consider Replacing Your AC. You can figure a properly maintained air conditioner to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are skyrocketing 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 trading comfort.

Increase Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Goode Bros AC & Heating

No one enjoys seeing their utility bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and bills lower this summer, our professionals can help. Reach us at 903-284-2612 or contact us online right away for more information.