As the heat increases, so does your air conditioning bills. To keep your AC bills controlled you could be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Wilmington?

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

Keeping your air conditioning going constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re out, and turning it back down when you get back. You can achieve this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat will do everything for you.

It’s a lot more laborious for your system to achieve a consistent setting for many hours. It can also cause a lot of strain on your equipment, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your utility bills, it can also result in a shorter life cycle for your air conditioner.

No matter what, the greater the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the higher your air conditioning expenses will be. So, what can you do to remain cool and keep your energy bills low in the summer season? Here are our tips based on 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 says that you can conserve up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re away. Through the summer, it’s recommended to set your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re elsewhere. It’s equally as important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a colder setting than average when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool your house any faster, it just causes bigger utility bills. While these temperatures might appear warm, there are many methods to keep comfortable without having to always run the air conditioner.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says turning up the thermostat by just 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can lower energy by up to 14% over the course of the warmer months. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you leave the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Furthermore, keeping blinds lowered and curtains shut for the duration of the day helps keep conditioned air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver added insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a residence let conditioned air to rapidly escape and warm air to get in. This may lead to your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your residence cool and your energy bills to rise. Make certain that any openings, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Regular Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your equipment is always functioning at its most efficient. This permits our pros to spot small issues before they turn into substantial problems. A clean air conditioner is usually more efficient and can even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Invest in a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to assure comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works along with your smartphone to see when you’re in your home or gone to optimize your energy efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 per year on heating and cooling costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC. You can foresee a properly maintained AC unit to last for 15-20 years. But if you’re frequently calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are rising with no change in thermostat settings, it may be time for a replacement. We carry many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.

Enhance Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Brandywine Heating & Air

No one likes to see their utility bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and costs low this summer, our pros can help. Reach us at 302-261-3596 or contact us online right away for additional info.