As the heat goes up, so does your air conditioning expenses. To keep your cooling costs under control you may be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Houston?

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

Keeping your AC going all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise adjusting your thermostat higher when you’re away, and turning it down when you get back. You can achieve this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the work for you.

It’s far more laborious for your system to achieve the same setting for many hours. 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 can also cause a reduced life expectancy for your AC.

No matter what, the larger the difference between your home’s temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your air conditioning expenses will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your utility bills low in the hot weather? Here are our suggestions based on recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Approaches to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE states that you can conserve up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re away. Through 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 usual when you turn on your air conditioner. This doesn’t actually cool off your house any quicker, it just results in bigger utility bills. While these temperatures might appear high, there are many methods to keep cooler without having to consistently run the AC unit.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says increasing the thermostat by just 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can decrease air conditioning costs 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 leave the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Furthermore, keeping blinds lowered and curtains drawn during the day helps keep cool air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver additional insulation and boost energy efficiency.
  3. Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a home enable conditioned air to easily get out and warm air to get in. This can result in your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your house cooler and your energy bills to climb. Make sure that any gaps, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your air conditioner is always running at its most efficient. This lets our experts to identify simple issues before they become major problems. A maintained air conditioner is typically more efficient and could even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Invest in a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to ensure comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively adjusts the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works along with your smartphone to see when you’re at your house or gone to enhance your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 every year on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioner. You can anticipate a properly maintained air conditioner to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re frequently calling us for air conditioning repair or your utility bills are increasing with no change in thermostat settings, it might be time for a replacement. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without compromising comfort.

Improve Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Air Current AC & Heat

No one wants to see their utility bill climb during the summer season. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and bills low this summer, our team can help. Reach us at 713-322-4318 or contact us online now for additional info.