Is It Cheaper to Leave Your AC on All Day in the Summer?

June 19, 2020
Woman relaxing lying on a couch at hom
Profile of a beautiful woman relaxing lying on a couch at home

As the temperature rises, so does your AC bills. To keep your cooling bills down you could be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Franklin & South Indy?

It’s a popular belief that turning your AC unit 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 suggest adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and lowering it when you return. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do everything for you.

It’s considerably more laborious for your system to stay at a consistent temperature throughout the day. It can also result in a lot of strain on your air conditioner, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

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

No matter what, the larger the difference between your home’s temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your AC expenses will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your utility bills down in the summer season? Here are our ideas based off of recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

6 Methods to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Modify Your Thermostat Usage. The DOE states that you can save up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re away. During the hotter months, it’s recommended to position your thermostat at 78 degrees at the time you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s additionally important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a colder setting than average when you turn on your air conditioner. This doesn’t actually cool off your home any quicker, it just causes bigger electric bills. While these temperatures might appear high, there are a number of approaches to keep comfortable without having to always run the AC unit.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says increasing the thermostat by only 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can decrease AC by up to 14% over the course of the summer season. It’s important to remember that fans cool people, not spaces. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Also, keeping blinds down and curtains drawn throughout the day helps keep conditioned air in. There are also some window treatments meant to deliver additional insulation and improve energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps all across a residence let cool air to rapidly get out and warmer air to get inside. This could result in your AC unit having to work harder to keep your home cool and your utility costs to increase. Make sure that any openings, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are quick solutions for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Plan for Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your unit is always functioning at its best. This allows our experts to spot small issues before they become major problems. A maintained air conditioner is usually more efficient and can even last longer.
  5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the best approaches to ensure comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively adapts the temperature based on your daily schedule. It works together with your smartphone to sense when you’re home or elsewhere to enhance your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 every year on energy bills.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can foresee a properly maintained AC to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC costs are skyrocketing with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for an upgrade. We offer a number of energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without bargaining comfort.

Enhance Your Home’s Energy Efficiency With Winters Heating and Cooling

No one enjoys seeing their air conditioning bill rise during the warm months. If you’re in search of more ways to keep your energy usage and bills low this summer, our professionals can help. Give us a call at 317-406-5382 or contact us online right away for additional details