With air conditioning accounting for between 30-50% of the average household’s electricity bill, many of you are wondering how to reduce these costs. And with simply turning off your air conditioning unit not really being an option, especially not in the heat of summer, the next best thing is to learn how to use air conditioner effectively.
Below we’ve put together some tips on how to use your air conditioner economically while still maintaining an acceptable temperature level in your home. These few simple hacks will ensure that you can keep yourself cool without breaking the bank.
5 Steps Guide to Make Your Air Conditioner Work More Efficiently
1.Regular Maintenance Checks
One of the easiest ways to ensure that you are getting maximum efficiency from your AC is to schedule yearly maintenance checks. Yet it is surprising how many people fail to do this.
Blocked filters and vents, dirty coils, etc., all impact negatively on the performance of your air conditioner air filter, forcing it to consume more power than would otherwise be necessary in order to keep your living space at the temperature you desire. And the longer you neglect maintenance, the higher your AC operating costs become — until your unit inevitably breaks down and you’re hit with a major repair bill on top of everything else. In fact, according to studies, 50% of all AC breakdowns are caused by poor maintenance.
2. Don’t Touch the Thermostat
It is not uncommon for people to try to save money by turning the thermostat up when they leave the house. And while this might seem like a logical move in order to cut down on electricity consumption, it can actually have the opposite effect.
The reason for this is that AC units work most efficiently when they are set on one temperature. Initially, they will use a lot of power to reduce the temperature to the desired level, but they have hit it they work in on-off cycles, using small amounts of power in short bursts only when the temperature goes up. If you are constantly lowering and raising the thermostat, you will use more electricity as the unit works to cool down your house when you return.
3. Keep the Drapes Shut
If you have a space that catches the sun for most of the day you might be wondering how to increase ac cooling in a room? The simple answer is simply to keep the drapes shut.
The sun hitting the windows will heat up the glass and frames and this heat will radiate into your room. To avoid this, just keep your drapes shut. Or fix outside blinds or shutter and keep them closed. This won’t increase the cooling in the room, but it will reduce the heat, and the end result is the same, a cooler room.
4. “It’s the Humidity!”
In a climate like Miami’s, humidity is just as much a problem as heat. If you want your AC to work at maximum efficiency, we recommend you get a whole-house dehumidifier installed as well. This will help keep you and your family comfortable at a higher thermostat setting than you are used to.
5. Location, Location, Location
Another common mistake is not protecting your outside unit from the sun.
In order to make sure your AC is working efficiently and to extend its life for as long as possible, your outside unit should be located on the north side of your house where it will not be exposed to direct sunlight. If this is not possible, it is a good idea to try to hide it from view. This won’t just make your yard or garden look nicer, it will also give your unit much-needed protection from the elements. Just remember not to block off access to it completely so you can still get those maintenance checks.
We hope you find these tips useful, and for the first step on cutting down your utility bills, contact us to schedule a maintenance check today!
