As the heat increases, so does your energy expenses. To keep your cooling bills low you might be wondering, is it cheaper to leave your AC on all day in the summer in Albuquerque?

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

Keeping your air conditioner on constantly means you’re not using it very efficiently. We advise setting your thermostat higher when you’re away, and lowering it when you return. You can accomplish this with a programmable thermostat. Or, a smart thermostat can do the work for you.

It’s considerably more laborious for your system to achieve a constant temperature all day long. It can also lead to a lot of stress on your system, since it’s repeatedly turning on and off.

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

In any case, the bigger the difference between your home’s temperature and the outside temperature, the higher your AC expenses will be. So, what can you do to remain cool and keep your electric bills low in the summer? Here are our tips based off of recommendations from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGY STAR®.

Six Ways to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Energy Efficiency

  1. Tweak Your Thermostat. The DOE says that you can conserve up to 10% yearly on heating and cooling by increasing your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re out. During the summer, it’s recommended to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re home and 88 degrees when you’re away. It’s also important to abstain from setting your thermostat to a cooler setting than normal when you turn on your AC unit. This doesn’t actually cool your residence any sooner, it just causes bigger electric bills. While these temperatures may appear toasty, there are a number of methods to keep cool without having to constantly run the air conditioner.
  2. Utilize Fans, Curtains and Blinds. ENERGY STAR says increasing the thermostat by only 2 degrees and turning on your ceiling fan can lessen air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the warm months. It’s important to keep in mind that fans cool people, not areas. So, when you head out of the room, turn the fan off to conserve energy. Furthermore, keeping blinds lowered and curtains shut for the duration of the day helps keep cool air inside. There are also some window solutions designed to deliver additional insulation and enhance energy efficiency.
  3. Adequately Seal All Doors, Windows and Openings. Leaky gaps throughout a residence allow for conditioned air to easily get out and warm air to get inside. This can lead to your AC equipment needing to work harder to keep your home cooler and your AC bills to rise. Make certain that any gaps, doors and windows are properly sealed. Caulking or weather-stripping are quick fixes for leaks or drafts near windows and doors.
  4. Schedule Regular Maintenance. Scheduling air conditioner maintenance assures that your system is always running at its most efficient. This allows our experts to identify simple issues before they become substantial troubles. A well-kept air conditioner is typically more efficient and can even last for a longer period of time.
  5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat. One of the greatest methods to guarantee comfort and energy savings is with a smart thermostat. This thermostat instinctively adjusts the temperature based on your day-to-day schedule. It works with your smartphone to see when you’re home or gone to optimize your energy savings. In fact, ENERGY STAR mentions that a smart thermostat could potentially save you about $180 yearly on HVAC costs.
  6. Consider Replacing Your Air Conditioning Unit. You can expect a properly taken care of air conditioner to run for 15-20 years. But if you’re regularly calling us for air conditioning repair or your energy bills are climbing with no change in thermostat settings, it could be time for a new system. We offer many energy-efficient air conditioners, such as ENERGY STAR models that can help you save more on cooling without trading comfort.

Increase Your Residence’s Energy Efficiency with I-Deal HVAC

No one likes to see their utility bill climb during the summer. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your energy usage and bills lower this summer, our team can help. Get in touch with us at 505-445-1250 or contact us online today for additional info.