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

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

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

It’s considerably more taxing for your system to stay at the same temperature all day long. It can also cause a lot of strain on your equipment, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your energy bills, it can also lead to a shortened life cycle for your air conditioner.

Regardless, the greater the difference between your home’s temperature and the outside temperature, the more your energy expenses will be. So, what can you do to stay cool and keep your electric bills low in the hot weather? Here are our ideas based off of recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Methods to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Adjust Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms that you can conserve up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees during the time you’re out of the house. Through the summer, it’s advised to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees when 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 normal when you turn on your AC. This doesn’t actually cool your house any faster, it just causes bigger electric bills. While these temperatures might appear toasty, there are a number of methods to keep cool without having to constantly run the AC unit.
  2. Use Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says raising the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and using your ceiling fan can lower air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the warmer months. It’s important to remember that fans cool people, not spaces. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Also, keeping blinds low and curtains closed during the day helps keep chilled air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver added insulation and increase energy efficiency.
  3. Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a residence let conditioned air to easily slip out and the heat to get inside. This could lead to your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your home cooler and your energy bills to skyrocket. Check that any gaps, doors and windows are adequately sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are quick fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your air conditioner is always performing at its most efficient. This permits our pros to identify little issues before they result in serious problems. A well-kept air conditioner is typically more efficient and could even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Install a Smart Thermostat. One of the greatest methods to assure comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works along with your smartphone to see when you’re home or away to enhance your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 yearly on energy costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC Unit. You can expect a properly maintained air conditioner to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are rising with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for an upgrade. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without trading comfort.

Increase Your House’s Energy Efficiency with Cytech Heating & Cooling L.C.

No one wants to see their air conditioning bill climb during the summer season. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy consumption and expenses low this summer, our pros can help. Reach us at 956-553-3265 or contact us online today for additional details.