As the heat increases, so does your air conditioning costs. To keep your cooling bills controlled you might be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Crystal and Twin Cities?

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 conditioner on constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise setting your thermostat higher when you’re out, 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 a lot more laborious for your system to keep a consistent setting all day long. It can also result in a lot of strain on your system, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

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

In any case, the greater the difference between your home’s temperature and the outside temperature, the higher your energy expenses will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your electric bills low in the hot weather? Here are our suggestions based on 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 affirms that you can conserve up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re out. During the summer, it’s recommended to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees when you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s also important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a cooler setting than average when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool off your home any quicker, it just leads to bigger utility bills. While these temperatures could appear warm, there are a number of methods to keep cool without having to constantly run the air conditioner.
  2. Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says increasing the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can decrease AC by up to 14% over the course of the warm months. It’s important to remember that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Additionally, keeping blinds down and curtains shut for the duration of the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver added insulation and enhance energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a residence allow for conditioned air to easily slip out and warm air to get inside. This can lead to your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your house cooler and your utility bills to rise. Make sure that any gaps, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Plan for Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your air conditioner is always running at its most efficient. This allows our experts to find little issues before they turn into serious problems. A maintained air conditioner is usually more efficient and can even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the greatest methods to ensure comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works with your smartphone to sense when you’re in your home or away to maximize your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 yearly on energy costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC. You can anticipate a properly maintained AC unit to run 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 supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, including ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without trading comfort.

Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with GV Heating & Air

No one likes to see their electricity bill climb during the summer. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and bills low this summer, our professionals can help. Get in touch with us at 763-535-2000 or contact us online today for extra information.