As the temp goes up, so does your energy costs. To keep your AC expenses low you may be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Manassas?

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

Keeping your air conditioner on all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and lowering it when you come back. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat will do the job for you.

It’s significantly more laborious for your system to stay at a constant temp all day long. It can also result in a lot of stress on your air conditioner, since it’s frequently turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it may also cause a shortened life cycle for your AC.

Regardless, the greater the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your energy expenses will be. So, what can you do to stay cool and keep your utility bills low in the hot weather? Here are our suggestions based off of recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Approaches to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Modify Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms that you can conserve up to 10% annually on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re away. Through the summer, it’s suggested to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re elsewhere. 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 off your residence any sooner, it just causes bigger energy bills. While these temperatures might appear high, there are many methods to keep cool without having to constantly run the AC unit.
  2. Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says turning up the thermostat by only 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lower air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the warm months. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you leave the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Additionally, keeping blinds down and curtains closed for the duration of the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window treatments designed to deliver added insulation and boost energy efficiency.
  3. Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a house let conditioned air to quickly get out and warm air to get in. This can result in your AC equipment having to work harder to keep your house comfortable and your energy bills to climb. Check that any openings, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your system is always performing at its most efficient. This lets our pros to spot small issues before they become serious problems. A well-kept air conditioner is usually more efficient and can even run for a longer period of time.
  5. Upgrade to 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 with your smartphone to see when you’re in your home or elsewhere to enhance your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 yearly on energy costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC Unit. You can anticipate a properly taken care of AC unit to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your utility bills are rising with no change in thermostat settings, it may be time for a new system. We offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without trading comfort.

Increase Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Fire & Ice HVAC

No one enjoys seeing their air conditioning bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and costs down this summer, our professionals can help. Give us a call at 703-595-4157 or contact us online today for additional information.