As the temperature rises, so does your energy bills. To keep your AC bills under control you might be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Yukon?

It’s a popular belief that turning your AC unit on and off throughout the day is a waste of energy. This is actually a myth.

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 elsewhere, and turning it down when you come back. You can achieve this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat will do the job for you.

It’s considerably more work for your system to achieve a consistent temp throughout the day. It can also result in a lot of strain on your system, since it’s frequently turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it can also cause a shorter life cycle for your HVAC system.

Regardless, the larger the difference between your indoor temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your energy expenses will be. So, what can you do to remain cool and keep your utility bills low in the warm 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. Adjust 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 during the time you’re away at work. Through the summer, it’s advised to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees at the time 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 unit. This doesn’t actually cool down your residence any faster, it just leads to bigger utility bills. While these temperatures may appear toasty, there are a number of methods to keep cool without having to constantly run the air conditioning.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says increasing the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lower AC by up to 14% over the course of the summer season. It’s important to keep in mind that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Furthermore, keeping blinds down and curtains shut for the duration of the day helps keep cooler air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver added insulation and boost energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks throughout a house let conditioned air to easily escape and warm air to get in. This can result in your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your residence cool and your energy bills to skyrocket. Check that any cracks, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Plan for Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your unit is always functioning at its most efficient. This lets our pros to find small issues before they become significant problems. A clean air conditioner is usually more efficient and may even run for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to ensure comfort and efficiency 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 know when you’re home or elsewhere to enhance your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 every year on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC Unit. You can foresee a properly maintained AC unit to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re frequently calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are rising with no change in thermostat settings, it may be time for a new system. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without trading comfort.

Enhance Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Comfort Concepts Heating & Air Conditioning

No one enjoys seeing their air conditioning bill climb during the warmer months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy consumption and bills down this summer, our pros can help. Reach us at 405-494-7444 or contact us online right away for more information.