As the heat goes up, so does your AC expenses. To keep your air conditioning expenses controlled you may be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Lake Worth?

It’s a widespread belief that turning your AC on and off throughout the day is inefficient. This is actually not true.

Keeping your air conditioner going all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise setting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and turning it back down when you come home. You can achieve this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do the work for you.

It’s a lot more work for your system to keep the same setting all day long. It can also cause a lot of wear and tear to your air conditioner, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it may also result in a shorter life cycle for your HVAC system.

No matter what, the larger the difference between your home’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 tips based on recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Ways to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Change 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 while you’re out of the house. During the summer, it’s suggested to position your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re out. It’s additionally important to avoid setting your thermostat to a cooler setting than average when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool down your home any quicker, it just causes bigger electric bills. While these temperatures may appear toasty, there are many methods to keep cooler without having to constantly run the air conditioning.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says increasing the thermostat by only 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can decrease air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the cooling season. It’s important to note that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Additionally, keeping blinds lowered and curtains drawn throughout the day helps keep conditioned air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver added insulation and boost energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a home enable conditioned air to quickly slip out and warm air to get inside. This could cause your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your residence cooler and your utility bills to rise. Make certain that any gaps, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your equipment is always performing at its most efficient. This lets our experts to detect small issues before they become serious problems. A maintained air conditioner is typically more efficient and can even last for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to ensure comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively adjusts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works with your smartphone to see when you’re at home or elsewhere to enhance your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 annually on heating and cooling costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioning Unit. You can anticipate a properly maintained air conditioner to last for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your energy bills are skyrocketing with no change in thermostat settings, it may be time for an upgrade. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.

Improve Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Smyth Air Conditioning

No one wants to see their electricity bill climb during the summer season. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and costs lower this summer, our team can help. Reach us at 561-533-6066 or contact us online today for more information.