It is estimated that the cost of running all AC units in the United States runs to a staggering US$29 billion for homeowners, while the amount of energy equates to 6% of the national energy used in a year. While this may appear to be an enormous sum of money, there are ways and means you can easily reduce the cost of running your own AC unit:

The setting for your AC unit depends on where you live and the climate you live in. Drier climates in states like Arizona means you can run your HVAC unit at a more economical setting than Maine or Connecticut. In addition, if you are used to living in a hot climate like California, as opposed to a cooler one such as North Dakota, you will want the winter temperature of your AC unit to be higher than for someone in North Dakota.

However, in the summer, don’t be too tempted to turn your home into an ice box, and take note that, on average, one degree less you set your AC thermostat to will result in approximately a 3% saving in your fuel bill.

Think about your living habits and whether you are out most of the day, or away at weekends. It’s a good idea to set the thermostat to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and otherwise the average temperature is set at 78 degrees for the summer months. In the winter, set the temperature to between 10 and 15 degrees lower than you have it set for the summer.

Here at A&E Air Conditioning and Heating in San Antonio, we can’t stress the importance of having an accurate and regularly checked AC thermostat, especially when energy costs are a major element of the household budget, as well as ensuring your AC unit is running at full efficiency. To get yours checked over, or if you’d like some general advice, please give us a call.