As the temperature rises, so does your energy costs. To keep your cooling expenses under control you may be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Bartlesville?

It’s a popular belief that turning your air conditioner on and off throughout the day is a waste of energy. This is actually a myth.

Keeping your air conditioner running constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and turning it down when you get back. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the work for you.

It’s significantly more laborious for your system to achieve a consistent setting for many hours. It can also result in a lot of stress on your system, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your energy bills, it might also cause a shortened life expectancy for your HVAC system.

No matter what, the greater the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the more your air conditioning expenses will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your utility 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 Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Adjust 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 away. 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 also important to avoid setting your thermostat to a lower setting than usual when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool off your house any sooner, it just leads to bigger electric bills. While these temperatures may appear warm, there are a number of methods to keep cool without having to consistently run the AC unit.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says dialing up the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can decrease AC by up to 14% over the course of the summer. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not spaces. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Additionally, keeping blinds lowered and curtains closed throughout the day helps keep chilled air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver additional insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a home enable conditioned air to easily escape and warmer air to get within. This may result in your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your house cool and your energy bills to increase. Make sure that any cracks, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
  4. Plan for Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your equipment is always performing at its most efficient. This permits our pros to find simple issues before they turn into significant problems. A well-kept air conditioner is generally 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 efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works along with your smartphone to notice when you’re in your home or away to enhance your energy efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 yearly on heating and cooling costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC. You can foresee a properly taken care of AC to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are rising with no change in thermostat settings, it might be time for a replacement. We offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.

Increase Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Farris Heating & Air

No one wants to see their air conditioning bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and expenses low this summer, our pros can help. Give us a call at 918-333-0376 or contact us online today for more details.