As the heat goes up, so does your energy bills. To keep your AC bills controlled you might be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Cedar Rapids?

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

Keeping your air conditioner on constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re out, and lowering it when you get back. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the work for you.

It’s considerably more laborious for your system to achieve a consistent setting all day long. It can also lead to a lot of strain on your equipment, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your energy bills, it may also cause a shorter life expectancy for your AC unit.

No matter what, the bigger the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the more your air conditioning 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 upon recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Methods to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Adjust Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms that you can conserve up to 10% yearly on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re out. Through the summer, it’s suggested to set your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s additionally important to forgo setting your thermostat to a cooler setting than usual when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool off your house any sooner, it just causes bigger utility bills. While these temperatures may appear toasty, there are additional methods to keep cooler without having to constantly run the AC unit.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says dialing up the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lessen AC by up to 14% over the course of the summer season. It’s important to remember that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Furthermore, keeping blinds low and curtains closed for the duration of the day helps keep cool air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver additional insulation and enhance energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a residence let conditioned air to easily get out and warm air to get in. This can result in your AC equipment having to work harder to keep your house cool and your energy bills to climb. Make certain that any gaps, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are quick fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Arrange Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your air conditioner is always functioning at its most efficient. This permits our experts to detect simple issues before they become substantial problems. A well-kept air conditioner is usually more efficient and can even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to assure comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works along with your smartphone to see when you’re home or gone to maximize your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 yearly on energy costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can expect a properly maintained air conditioner to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are rising with no change in thermostat settings, it might be time for an upgrade. We supply 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 Ilten's

No one wants to see their air conditioning bill climb during the summer. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy consumption and costs down this summer, our pros can help. Reach us at 319-208-2351 or contact us online right away for extra details.