Utilize Curtains or Blinds to Block Sunlight
During the hot summer months, one effective way to increase the energy efficiency of your window air conditioner is by utilizing curtains or blinds to block sunlight. This simple yet effective method can help keep your room cool and reduce the strain on your AC unit.
As it turns out, the most efficient way to keep your home cool and the bills low is to leave the AC running—ideally, with the temperature turned up toward the upper 70s.
Yes, Auto Mode can save energy in most situations. By maintaining a consistent temperature without unnecessary fluctuations, prevents the AC from overworking, which can reduce energy consumption.
Finding the Right Balance
On an average summer day, a general guideline is that your AC should operate between 12 and 16 hours. However, several factors can influence this, including the outdoor temperature, desired indoor temperature, the size and type of your unit, and your home's energy efficiency.
In general, wall and window air conditioning units with smaller capacities can typically run for up to eight hours at a time before they need to rest. Larger wall and window units have a longer running time of around 10 to 12 hours, depending on their cooling power.
When You Run Your AC All Day, Temperature Is Everything. Yes, we have said that it is usually cheaper to keep your air conditioner on all day, but this is only true if you have it set to the right temperature. This method works when you keep it at a higher temperature (albeit lower than however hot it is outside).
IS 72 A GOOD TEMPERATURE FOR AIR CONDITIONING? Setting your air conditioning to 72°F is generally considered a comfortable indoor temperature for many people.
The fan only turns on when cooling or heating is required. If you are generally as comfortable in one room of your home as the next, you'll want to use the AUTO setting. The AC fan kicks in when needed and stops running when the job is done.
If You're Leaving Home for the Day or Weekend ...
"It's more energy efficient to keep the unit on but turn the temperature setting up," she advises. Turning off the AC unit during the day is not necessarily a bad thing — it is a myth that the AC unit has to work extra-hard to cool off a hot house.
EnergySage estimates that a typical window unit costs roughly $320 (CAD 428) per year to run in areas with a 5-month hot season. Therefore, running a window AC will likely add around $27 (CAD 36) on average to your monthly energy bill.
Consequences of Running Your Air Conditioner 24 Hours a Day
So the longer your AC operates, the more energy it guzzles, leading to sky-high utility bills at the end of the month. Wasted energy: Running the AC to cool your home beyond your comfort level wastes energy and contributes to an increased carbon footprint.
The recommended rule of thumb for summertime is to set the temperature to 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you're home and higher when you're away. In general, set it to 82 degrees Fahrenheit when you're asleep and 85 degrees Fahrenheit when you're away.
Close Doors
If there are rooms that lead into the room you want to cool down that seem to get hotter than normal, close the door(s) to those rooms. Heat will transfer from room to room if a door is open, so closing any doors in rooms that seem to generate more heat will help.
Split ACs are ideal for larger rooms and offer quieter operation but require professional installation and higher upfront costs. Window ACs are easier to install and more cost-effective but are noisier and less efficient.
Placing a fan in front of your unit helps spread the cooled air.
The fan mode in your AC is designed to circulate air throughout the room. Instead of cooling the air, it simply moves the existing air around.
Choosing the Auto Setting
If you set your preferred temperature very low, your air conditioner is still going to run longer than necessary. But using the AUTO setting with a reasonable set temperature will keep your energy costs low, especially if you turn your unit off when you're away from home or asleep.
First, check your filters and coils for dirt and debris that may be impeding airflow. Once you've cleaned the filters and coils, run the air conditioner with just the fan so that the ice accumulation can melt off. If the AC still doesn't blow cold air, it could be that refrigerant levels are too low.
Cool mode: Ideal for hot days, this mode reduces the room temperature to your desired setting. Dry mode: Perfect for humid conditions, this mode removes excess moisture from the air without significantly reducing the temperature.
There are benefits to having your air conditioner set to “auto” and “on.” The benefits of the “auto” setting include higher efficiency, lower energy bills, better humidity control, less wear and tear on some components, and quieter running.
For many of us, 70 degrees is the ideal indoor temperature, but when it is close to 100 degrees outside, your AC unit will be working quite hard to meet these expectations. Consider setting your thermostat at 75 degrees to 80 degrees in your home if the outside temperature is approaching triple digits.
One great way to lower energy costs is to avoid cooling an empty house. This is especially true during the middle of the day. If everyone in your household is either at work or school, then turning the temperature to 78-80 degrees will save you a chunk of change when the energy bill arrives.
If the temperature is set to 74°F but the thermometer shows 78°F, you will have to recalibrate the thermostat to account for this 4-degree deviation. Even with older AC units or furnaces, you might have to recalibrate your thermostat from time to time.
But as it turns out, the only real pro to keeping your thermostat one temperature is convenience. Sure, when you're away on vacation or gone for the weekend, the consistent temperature is efficient, but when you're at home, there are really no additional benefits.