As the temp rises, so does your AC expenses. To keep your cooling bills under control you could be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in The Bay Area?

It’s a common belief that turning your AC on and off throughout the day is inefficient. This is actually a myth.

Keeping your air conditioning on all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest setting your thermostat higher when you’re elsewhere, and turning it back down when you return. You can achieve this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do the job for you.

It’s considerably more work for your system to keep a constant temp for many hours. It can also lead to a lot of wear and tear to 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 shortened life cycle for your AC.

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

Six Approaches 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 turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re away at work. During the summer, it’s advised to set your thermostat at 78 degrees when you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re elsewhere. It’s also important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a lower setting than usual when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool down your house any faster, it just leads to bigger electric bills. While these temperatures may appear warm, there are additional methods to keep comfortable without having to always run the AC.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising the thermostat by just 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can decrease air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the warm months. It’s important to be mindful that that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Additionally, keeping blinds down and curtains shut throughout the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver additional insulation and improve energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a house allow for conditioned air to quickly slip out and the heat to get inside. This can cause your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your residence cooler and your AC bills to skyrocket. Make sure that any openings, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your system is always functioning at its most efficient. This allows our professionals to locate little issues before they result in substantial problems. A maintained air conditioner is typically more efficient and may 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 everyday schedule. It works together with your smartphone to see when you’re home or elsewhere to enhance your energy efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 every year on heating and cooling costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC. You can anticipate a properly taken care of air conditioner to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your utility bills are rising 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.

Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Contra Costa Heating & AC

No one wants to see their utility bill climb during the summer season. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and bills lower this summer, our experts can help. Give us a call at 510-343-9841 or contact us online now for extra details.