Emily Clarke

How Much Does Keeping the AC on Impact My Electric Bill?

When summer rolls around, your AC becomes a lifesaver! It turns your home into a haven away from the heat, keeping you comfortable no matter the outside temperatures. If you're like most people, there's nothing better than relaxing at home with the AC on full blast.

But have you ever wondered how much running your AC all day costs you? If you need electric bill payment assistance, you may want to be more strategic about how you run your AC.

The True Costs of AC

How much electricity your AC unit uses depends on many factors. Its core design plays a big part in its energy consumption. For example, central AC units use significantly more than smaller window units. The design and overall insulation of your home matter, too. If your home has many air leaks, your AC must work harder to maintain cool temperatures.

All those variables aside, running an AC is a big expense. It's one of the hungriest energy consumers in your home. A typical whole-home AC unit consumes roughly 3,000 watts an hour on average! If you keep the unit on 24 hours a day, that's 72,000 watts a day.

Energy costs can vary based on location and time of the year. Typically, summer prices from your electric provider are higher because everyone runs their AC. You'll also notice that prices are higher during the day than at night.

Running your AC can cost upwards of $0.88 per hour. That doesn't seem like much, but let's do the math. At $0.88 per hour, you're looking at $21.12 for all-day operation and at least $633 a month!

Tips to Lower Your Electric Bill

Electric bill payment assistance is available, but there are plenty of ways to make cooling your home more efficient. First, consider making improvements around your home. Address air leaks and drafts, paying attention to door and window jambs. Preventing cool air from escaping your home will make a big difference.

Another tip is to raise the temperature of your AC or turn it off entirely when you're not home. Consider investing in a smart thermostat. With one of those gadgets, you can turn your AC on remotely to cool things down before you get home or set your AC on a schedule.

Author Resource:-

Emily Clarke writes about cash advances, overdraft protection & finance apps. You can find her thoughts at fast cash advance blog.