As the temp goes up, so does your energy bills. To keep your air conditioning expenses down you could be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Cedar Rapids?

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

Keeping your air conditioner going all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re out, and lowering it when you come home. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the job for you.

It’s significantly more laborious for your system to stay at the same temperature all day long. It can also lead to a lot of stress on your system, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

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

No matter what, the bigger the difference between your indoor temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your air conditioning expenses will be. So, what can you do to stay cool and keep your electric bills low in the warm weather? Here are our ideas based on recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Ways to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Adjust Your Thermostat. The DOE says that you can conserve up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re out. During 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 colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. This doesn’t actually cool down your home any faster, it just causes bigger energy bills. While these temperatures might appear toasty, there are additional methods to keep cool without having to always run the air conditioner.
  2. Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising the thermostat by only 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lessen air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the cooling season. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you leave the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Additionally, keeping blinds low and curtains shut throughout the day helps keep conditioned air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver extra insulation and enhance energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a home enable conditioned air to easily get out and warm air to get inside. This could lead to your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your home cooler and your AC bills to skyrocket. Check that any gaps, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your system is always performing at its most efficient. This permits our experts to spot simple issues before they become significant dilemmas. A clean air conditioner is typically more efficient and may even run for a longer period of time.
  5. Upgrade to 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 daily schedule. It works along with your smartphone to see when you’re home or away to maximize your energy efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 per year on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can expect a properly taken care of AC unit to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your energy bills are skyrocketing with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for a replacement. We carry many energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.

Increase Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Ilten's

No one likes to see their utility bill climb during the summer season. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and expenses lower this summer, our professionals can help. Give us a call at 319-208-2351 or contact us online today for additional info.