As the temperature goes up, so does your energy bills. To keep your AC costs low you may be thinking, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Omaha?

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

Keeping your air conditioning running all the time means you’re not using it very efficiently. We suggest setting your thermostat higher when you’re out, and turning it back down when you get back. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do everything for you.

It’s much more work for your system to achieve the same temp throughout the day. It can also lead to a lot of stress on your air conditioner, since it’s constantly turning on and off.

So, on top of it increasing your electricity bills, it might also cause a shortened life expectancy for your AC unit.

In any case, the bigger the difference between your house’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 summer season? Here are our ideas based on recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Approaches to Increase Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE affirms that you can conserve up to 10% yearly on heating and cooling by raising your thermostat 7-10 degrees when you’re away. In the summer, it’s recommended to position your thermostat at 78 degrees at the time you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re elsewhere. 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 off your house any quicker, it just leads to bigger utility bills. While these temperatures may appear warm, there are additional methods to keep comfortable without having to consistently run the AC.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says turning up the thermostat by a mere 2 degrees and utilizing your ceiling fan can lower AC by up to 14% over the course of the cooling season. It’s important to keep in mind that fans cool people, not rooms. So, when you leave the room, turn the fan off to save energy. Additionally, keeping blinds lowered and curtains shut throughout the day helps keep conditioned air inside. There are also some window coverings designed to deliver additional insulation and improve energy efficiency.
  3. Properly Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky cracks throughout a residence let conditioned air to quickly slip out and warm air to get in. This may cause your AC equipment being required to work harder to keep your house comfortable and your energy bills to rise. Make sure that any cracks, doors and windows are adequately sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are simple fixes for leaks or drafts around windows and doors.
  4. Arrange Annual Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance ensures your AC is always functioning at its most efficient. This lets our pros to identify small issues before they result in major dilemmas. A maintained air conditioner is generally more efficient and may even live for a longer period of time.
  5. Invest in a Smart Thermostat. One of the easiest methods to guarantee 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 states that a smart thermostat could actually save you about $180 yearly on energy costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your AC. You can foresee a properly cared for AC unit to live 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 might be time for a replacement. We offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without negotiating comfort.

Enhance Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning

No one enjoys seeing their electricity bill climb during the warm months. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy consumption and costs down this summer, our experts can help. Give us a call at 402-509-5940 or contact us online now for extra info.