Most homeowners think the best way to save money on cooling costs is to turn the air conditioner off when no one is home.
There’s a much better way.
Turning your temperature up instead of off will save you more. Turning the temperature up seven to 10 degrees while you’re out during the day is a better option; it protects your home from mold and bugs, saves money, and keeps you comfortable. Turning your air conditioner off can cause your home’s indoor humidity levels to soar, and invite intruders, primarily mold and bugs, which prefer the humidity. Your cooling system doesn’t just cool your home; it also dehumidifies it. So when you turn your air conditioner off, it doesn’t take long for the humidity in your home to soar over 50-percent, at which point there’s mold growth and bug infestations. If you turn the temperature up seven to 10 degrees, your air conditioner will turn on periodically; controlling the indoor humidity and maintaining a healthy humidity level between 45 and 50-percent. Who likes coming home to a humid and stuffy house? Nobody. But, that is what you’re going to have when you turn your air conditioner off. You can also save on cooling costs over the summer by keeping your air conditioner on. Raising the temperature decreases the difference between the temperature inside and outside. That lowers your air conditioner’s workload, saving energy. If you think you’ll forget to increase the temperature seven to 10- degrees every day, consider investing in a programmable thermostat, which can change the temperature automatically for you, so you will not have to remember to do it all the time.