As the heat increases, so does your air conditioning bills. To keep your air conditioning costs controlled you might be asking yourself, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Los Angeles?

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

Keeping your AC going all day means you’re not using it very efficiently. We recommend moving your thermostat to a higher setting when you’re out, and turning it down when you return. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat is able to do the job for you.

It’s a lot more laborious for your system to keep a consistent temperature for many hours. It can also lead to a lot of wear and tear to your air conditioner, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your energy bills, it could also cause a shorter life expectancy for your air conditioner.

In any case, the bigger the difference between your indoor temperature and the outside temperature, the greater your AC expenses will be. So, what can you do to stay cool and keep your utility bills low in the warm weather? Here are our ideas based upon recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Methods to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Change Your Thermostat. The DOE states that you can conserve up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re away. Through the summer, it’s advised to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees when you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re elsewhere. It’s also 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 down your house any faster, it just causes bigger energy bills. While these temperatures might appear toasty, there are a number of methods to keep cool without having to consistently run the air conditioning.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says increasing the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can decrease AC by up to 14% over the course of the warmer months. It’s important to keep in mind that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you exit the room, turn the fan off to be energy efficient. Also, keeping blinds lowered and curtains shut throughout the day helps keep conditioned air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver extra insulation and boost energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky openings throughout a residence allow for conditioned air to easily escape and warmer air to get in. This can cause your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your residence cooler and your energy bills to increase. Make sure 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. Arrange Routine Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance makes sure your air conditioner is always running at its most efficient. This allows our pros to detect small issues before they become significant dilemmas. A well-kept air conditioner is usually more efficient and can even last for a longer period of time.
  5. Invest in a Smart Thermostat. One of the greatest methods to ensure comfort and cost-effectiveness 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 see when you’re at your house or elsewhere to enhance your efficiency. In fact, ENERGY STAR says that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 per year on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC. You can expect a properly taken care of AC to live for 15-20 years. But if you’re often calling us for air conditioning repair or your AC bills are climbing with no change in thermostat settings, it may be time for a replacement. We supply many energy-efficient air conditioners, like ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without compromising comfort.

Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with AZ Air Conditioning and Heating

No one enjoys seeing their utility bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy use and costs down this summer, our experts can help. Reach us at 800-296-5088 or contact us online right away for additional information.