Next to pools and hot tubs, running an air conditioner during the summer is by far the largest energy user in your home. That also means that it is also the highest cost device in terms of electricity used by your home over the summer months when it is hot and you need relief from the high temperatures and the humidity that usually goes along with it. There are lots of theories about how to adjust air conditioner thermostat in your home to reduce the overall cost. We investigated many web sites and found a great deal of information which makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Even the department of energy weighs in on this topic and had some good ideas. We will summarize all of them in the following paragraphs.
How to Adjust Air Conditioner Thermostat
The basic rule is that if your AC is running it is costing you money. If it is not running you are saving money. There are various approaches you can take to decrease the amount of time it is running to reduce your cost and make them more efficient. Here is the list that we gleaned from a number of web sites.
- Set the temperature on your thermostat higher to a level your family is comfortable with
- Turn off the AC or set it higher when you are not at home.
- Set the thermostat higher during the day, lower at night and when the family arrives home
- Use the Thermostats timer to control the temperature at various times of the day
- Use fans to move the air around in your home, they draw less energy
- Make sure your ceiling fan is blowing air down towards you instead of up to maximize the cooling effect
- Close blinds and curtains to decrease the amount of heating via windows.
- Size your Air Conditioner for your home. Too small and too big are both bad ideas causing inefficiency in terms of energy use
- Locate your AC outdoor unit in a shady spot away from the sun
- Make sure there is lots of ventilation around your outdoor unit, avoid shrubs etc
- Keep all filters and outdoor unit clean to increase efficiency
- Keep all air ducts open and make sure your cold air return ducts are open and clean
- Utilize shade trees to shade your home