As the temperature goes up, so does your air conditioning bills. To keep your cooling costs under control you might be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Winnipeg?
It’s a popular belief that turning your AC unit on and off throughout the day is wasteful. This is actually a myth.
Keeping your air conditioning going all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise setting your thermostat higher when you’re away, and turning it down when you come home. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do the job for you.
It’s significantly more work for your system to keep the same setting for many hours. It can also cause a lot of stress on your equipment, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.
So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it may also cause a shorter life expectancy for your air conditioner.
No matter what, the greater the difference between your house’s temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your energy expenses will be. So, what can you do to keep cool and keep your energy bills lower in the summer? Here are our suggestions based upon recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.
6 Methods to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency
- Tweak Your Thermostat Usage. The DOE says that you can conserve up to 10% yearly on heating and cooling by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees during the time you’re away at work. During the summer months, it’s suggested to position your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s additionally important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a colder setting than normal when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool off your house any sooner, it just results in bigger energy expenses. While these temperatures could appear toasty, there are additional approaches to keep cool without having to always run the AC unit.
- Take Advantage of 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% during the course of the warm months. It’s important to remember that fans cool people, not spaces. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Also, keeping blinds lowered and curtains closed throughout the day helps keep conditioned air in. There are also some window solutions made to deliver added insulation and boost energy efficiency.
- Effectively Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks throughout a home let cool air to quickly escape and warmer air to get inside. This may lead to your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your house cool and your energy costs to skyrocket. Make sure that any openings, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts close to windows and doors.
- Schedule Regular Tune-Ups. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your AC is always functioning at its most energy efficient. This permits our pro to locate simple issues before they result in significant problems. A well-kept AC unit is usually more efficient and might even live for a greater period of time.
- Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the best methods to ensure comfort and efficiency is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat automatically adapts the temperature based on your regular schedule. It works together with your smartphone to sense when you’re in your home or elsewhere to optimize your energy efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR states that a smart thermostat could possibly save you about $180 annually on energy bills.
- Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioning Unit. You can expect a properly maintained air conditioner to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re often contacting us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are increasing with no shifts in thermostat settings, it may be time for a new system. We supply a number of energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without negotiating comfort.
Enhance Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning
No one likes to see their air conditioning bill climb during the warmer months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy consumption and expenses down this summer, our pros can help. Get in touch with us at 204-272-8128 or contact us online right away for more information.