With temperatures sometimes topping 100 °F, many Florida homeowners find themselves looking for ways to reduce their cooling costs. A common question in that respect is whether it is cheaper to leave your air conditioner on all day or turn it off when you’re not home.
The answer to that question may seem obvious, but surprisingly, property owners generally save money by leaving the air conditioner running. The experts at ABS Air Conditioning Company are here to explain how that works and offer other tips to keep your cooling costs low. They’ve provided reliable HVAC services in Tampa for over 30 years and are happy to answer your questions. Call (813) 933-1000.
Why Is It Cheaper to Leave Your Air Conditioner on All Day?
When you leave your AC on, it keeps the temperature and humidity levels in your home stable. It takes more energy to cool a space down than it does to maintain a temperature.
If you turn off your AC when you’re not at home, it will have to cool the space all over again when you return. How long you are gone and how hot it is outside will, of course, play a role in how much less leaving your air conditioner on would cost, but it will cost less.
Saving on Cooling Costs: Choosing the Right AC Temperature
While it is cheaper to leave your air conditioner running, you can save on your electricity bill by adjusting the temperature settings when you’re not home.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if you’re looking to minimize costs, you want to keep your thermostat set to about 78 °F when you’re at home in the summer. Increasing this temperature by 7 to 10 degrees when you aren’t at home can reduce your cooling costs by as much as 10%.
One easy way to make sure you aren’t paying more than necessary to keep your home cool is to install a programmable thermostat. That way, you don’t have to remember to adjust the temperature at times where you often aren’t at home, such as during work hours. Many units also allow for a different schedule every day, so there’s no need to worry about it being too hot on the weekends.
Even better, a programmable thermostat will keep your heating costs low in the winter, too, as you can lower the temperature at night while you’re asleep and set it to come back up automatically just before your alarm goes off.
Want to Install a Programmable Thermostat?
To sum things up, is it cheaper to leave your air conditioner on all day? In most cases, yes, but what temperature it is set to matters. ABS Air Conditioning Company can ensure your home is always at the perfect temperature with reliable programmable thermostat installation, maintenance, and AC repair in St. Petersburg, FL. Call (813) 933-1000 to learn more.
