As the temperature rises, so does your AC expenses. To keep your cooling bills under control you could be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Mission Viejo?

It’s a popular belief that turning your AC unit on and off throughout the day is a waste of energy. This is actually not true.

Keeping your air conditioning going constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest setting your thermostat higher when you’re out, and turning it back down when you come back. You can accomplish 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 achieve a consistent temperature for many hours. It can also result in a lot of wear and tear to your system, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

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

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

Six Ways to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Change Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms that you can conserve up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees during the time you’re away. During the summer, it’s suggested to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees when you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re out. It’s also important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a colder setting than normal when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool down your home any faster, it just leads to bigger energy bills. While these temperatures could appear warm, there are many methods to keep comfortable without having to constantly run the air conditioning.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says turning up the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can lower AC by up to 14% over the course of the summer. It’s important to note that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Also, keeping blinds lowered and curtains drawn for the duration of the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver extra insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks throughout a home permit conditioned air to easily escape and warmer air to get within. This may result in your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your home cool and your energy bills to skyrocket. Make sure that any openings, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are quick fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Plan for Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your air conditioner is always performing at its most efficient. This permits our professionals to locate simple issues before they result in substantial troubles. A clean air conditioner is usually more efficient and can even run for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the greatest methods to assure comfort and cost-effectiveness is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works along with your smartphone to sense when you’re in your home or out to enhance your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 per year on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioning Unit. You can anticipate a properly taken care of AC to last for 15-20 years. But if you’re frequently 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 offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.

Increase Your House’s Energy Efficiency with 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning

No one wants to see their air conditioning bill climb during the warmer months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and costs low this summer, our team can help. Get in touch with us at 949-204-0859 or contact us online today for extra info.