If you’ve lived in our climate for even just a year, then you know how important it is to have a powerful and effective air conditioner. But what about the expense of running one? While the cost of electricity isn’t in our control, we can certainly help you with some tips to utilize your air conditioner more efficiently.
There aren’t many things we’ll tell you to do on your own when it comes to servicing your air conditioner–for good reason, it’s for your safety as well as the integrity of your cooling system–there are some things you can do to help your system work more efficiently and cost less.
Of course, our first tip is going to be to schedule maintenance. Professional maintenance allows our technicians to thoroughly inspect, adjust, and clean the components of your air conditioner that need it. We recommend this service once a year–twice a year if you have a heat pump system. Now, onto the other tips for boosting AC efficiency!
Raise the Temperature on the Thermostat
“Wait,” you might be wondering, “You want me to make it warmer than it needs to be? It’s already warm!”
No, we don’t expect you to make your home hotter than it has to be. However, it’s a safe assumption that you may be turning your thermostat settings down much lower than you need to in order to keep your home comfortable for the people living in it.
Homeowners often, for example, set their thermostat as low as 71°F, when most individuals are actually perfectly comfortable at about 78°F throughout the day. In addition, you’ll save energy and money by raising the temp when you’re not at home or while you’re sleeping. It’s unnecessary to waste energy by cooling a home you’re not using, or by lowering the temperate more than you really need to.
Use Your Ceiling Fans!
Ceiling fans are not capable of lowering the temperature of a room and can’t keep you cool all by themselves. However, they certainly can help you feel cooler by allowing sweat to evaporate from your body–our natural way of staying cool.
On a mild summer day, a ceiling fan can be sufficient to keep you cool and keep your bills lower, but on a warmer day when you need to use your AC system, ceiling fans help by pushing cooled air down and keeping warm air rising.
Therefore, using your ceiling fans with your central cooling system enables you to run the AC system at a higher temperature, therefore lowering your monthly energy expenditures.
Change the Air Filter
Your air conditioner comes with a standard air filter. This air filter isn’t in place to protect your indoor air quality, but rather it’s in place to protect the interior components of the air conditioner itself. When it gets too clogged up with debris, it can restrict airflow. Therefore your air conditioner will run longer to try to compensate, which forces it to draw more power to do its job.
Changing the air filter is one of those small maintenance tasks that homeowners can and should do on their own. You should be changing yours out every 1-3 months, depending on the type of filter and the level of contaminants in your home.
For quality service on your air conditioning in Modesto, CA, contact DeHart Plumbing, Heating, and Air Inc.