As the heat increases, so does your air conditioning costs. To keep your cooling costs under control you might be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Fort Lauderdale?

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 conditioning running constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re away, and turning it back down when you get back. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do everything for you.

It’s much more taxing for your system to achieve a constant temp for many hours. It can also lead to a lot of stress on your system, since it’s frequently turning on and off.

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

In any case, the greater the difference between your indoor temperature and the outside temperature, the greater 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 off of recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Approaches to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Adjust Your Thermostat. The DOE says that you can conserve up to 10% annually on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees during the time you’re out of the house. In the summer, it’s recommended to position your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re out. It’s additionally important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a cooler setting than average when you turn on your air conditioner. This doesn’t actually cool down your house any faster, it just leads to bigger electric bills. While these temperatures might appear high, there are many methods to keep cooler without having to always run the air conditioning.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says turning up the thermostat by only 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can lower energy by up to 14% over the course of the summer. 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 down and curtains shut for the duration of the day helps keep cool air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver additional insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a residence let conditioned air to rapidly get out and the heat to get in. This may lead to your AC equipment having to work harder to keep your home comfortable and your utility bills to rise. Check that any cracks, 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 equipment is always performing at its most efficient. This lets our experts to find little issues before they become major dilemmas. A clean air conditioner is typically more efficient and might even last for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest 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 together with your smartphone to know when you’re in your home or elsewhere to optimize your energy efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 annually on heating and cooling costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can expect 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 utility bills are climbing with no change in thermostat settings, it might be time for a new system. 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 Solar Air Inc.

No one enjoys seeing their utility bill climb during the warmer months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy consumption and costs down this summer, our pros can help. Give us a call at 954-320-7398 or contact us online today for extra info.