As the heat goes up, so does your air conditioning bills. To keep your cooling bills down you may be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Menomonie and western Wisconsin?

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

Keeping your air conditioner on constantly 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 can do the job for you.

It’s a lot more taxing for your system to stay at a consistent setting throughout the day. It can also result in a lot of strain on your system, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your energy bills, it may also result in a reduced life cycle for your AC.

Regardless, the larger the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the higher your AC expenses will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your utility bills low in the summer? Here are our suggestions based off of recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Approaches to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Modify 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. Through the summer, it’s recommended to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees when you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re elsewhere. It’s additionally important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a colder setting than usual when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool down your home any quicker, it just results in bigger utility bills. While these temperatures may appear warm, there are a number of methods to keep comfortable without having to always run the AC unit.
  2. Take Advantage of Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says increasing the thermostat by just 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can decrease AC 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 exit the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Additionally, keeping blinds low and curtains drawn throughout the day helps keep conditioned air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver extra insulation and enhance energy efficiency.
  3. Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a residence permit conditioned air to rapidly get out and the heat to get within. This can lead to your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your house cooler and your energy bills to increase. Make certain that any cracks, doors and windows are suitably sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are easy fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Arrange Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your equipment is always running at its most efficient. This lets our professionals to spot little issues before they become substantial troubles. A clean air conditioner is typically more efficient and might even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to ensure comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat intuitively adjusts the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works along with your smartphone to notice when you’re at your house or elsewhere to optimize your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 yearly on energy costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioning Unit. You can figure a properly maintained AC unit to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your utility bills are climbing with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for an upgrade. We carry many energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without compromising comfort.

Enhance Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Halverson Brothers Inc

No one likes to see their energy bill climb during the summer season. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and expenses lower this summer, our pros can help. Give us a call at 715-352-4052 or contact us online right away for extra info.