It’s no secret that Southern Canadian summers can become extremely hot and it can be costly to keep your home cool. Many Canadian homeowners run their air conditioning throughout the entire summer to keep them comfortable while they’re at home, but what about when they’re out of the house at work or school? This leads some of our customers to ask questions like “why am I cooling my home when no one is in it?” and “should I turn off my AC when I leave the house?”. These are all valid questions from homeowners who are sick of high energy bills in the summer. Here’s what you need to know.
If I Turn Off My AC When I’m Out Of The House Will I Save Money?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is a resounding no. It might make sense logically that you could save money by turning off your air conditioner when you’re out of the house because your AC isn’t running an extra eight to twelve hours a day. However, this practice could actually cost you more money in the long run.
This is because when you turn your system off and allow your house to warm up when you turn your air conditioner on again when you arrive home, it has to use extra energy to work to get your home at a cool temperature again. This results in large bursts of power as opposed to consistent and gradual cooling and can make your energy bills go up monthly.
Is It Better For My System If I Turn Off My AC When I Leave The House?
Again, this is a common misconception and it is not true. While some homeowners believe that letting their air conditioner rest during the day will prolong its overall lifespan, in reality, you’re forcing your air conditioner to work twice as hard to catch up at the end of the day. This will cause unnecessary wear and tear on your system, and over time you’ll notice an increase in disrepair and breakdowns, and eventually, you will end up taking years off of your air conditioner’s life.
How Do I Save Energy And Money During The Summer?
It can be really frustrating to spend money during the summer to keep your home cool when you’re not home, and for those who are looking for ways to save money and energy during the hottest times of the year, the best option for you is to install a programmable thermostat.
Programmable thermostats work with your furnace to help save you money throughout the year. They can be programmed to your schedule to reduce the power of your home’s air conditioner while you’re not home and increase the air conditioning when you are. This will help you save money and energy without putting additional wear and tear on your AC unit.
Interested in a new programmable thermostat for your home this summer?
Spring Home has the systems and advice to help!
The Spring Home team has been servicing the HVAC needs of the GTA for over 15 years. Our award-winning team of licensed technicians is committed to providing our clients with service they can trust and equipment they can rely on.
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