As the temperature in and around the Boston area continues to increase, you’ll rely more heavily on your air conditioner to keep you cool and comfortable. While there’s nothing wrong with this, there are sure to be a few questions on your mind. Here’s one that’s likely to be at the top of your priority list: is it okay to run your air conditioner all day long?
Let’s start with this: generally speaking, it’s perfectly safe to run your air conditioner all day long.
It’s not going to put too much strain on your system. And of course, it’s not going to cause a fire or some other type of disaster. Your air conditioner is designed to work efficiently under these conditions.
If you have any reason to run your AC all day, don’t shy away from doing so. This is much better than the alternative of attempting to deal with the heat through other means, such as opening windows and turning on ceiling fans.
Conversely, there are some things to keep in mind.
First and foremost, running your air conditioner all day this summer will increase your electric bill. There’s no way around this. If this is a concern — perhaps because it doesn’t fit into your budget — carefully track how much you’re using your home’s air conditioner. The last thing you need is a big surprise when your electric bill arrives in the mail. But there’s a catch. Running your air conditioner continuously is often better than turning it on and off throughout the day.
For example, if you’re in the habit of running it while you’re home at night but turning it off while you’re at work, think about two things:
- The amount of strain this cycle is putting on your air conditioner
- The amount of work that your air conditioner has to do to cool a home that’s been heating up all day
Use a Programmable Thermostat
A programmable or smart thermostat can go a long way in helping you address this question and any potential concerns that you have. This allows you to program your thermostat to control the AC based on your particular needs. For instance, you can lower the temperature to 72 degrees when sleeping at night. Then, when you’re away during the day, you can increase it a couple of degrees.
You can save up to roughly 10 percent on your energy bill by bumping your thermostat up a degree or two. Are you concerned about how long your air conditioner is running? Are you looking for ways to make your HVAC system more efficient? Contact us to ask questions, express your concerns, and schedule an appointment with one of our experienced service technicians.
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DIY Air Conditioning
