Keeping your home cool is one of the biggest energy costs for many households. However, there are steps that you can take to help your aircon run more efficiently, thus helping to reduce the amount of energy it uses. Even better, some of these tips are easy to implement and will cost you very little if anything at all.
Below we take a look at just a few tips that will help to keep your energy costs low when the time comes to turn your aircon unit on.
Adjust Your Thermostat
Adjusting your thermostat is one of the most effective ways of reducing your energy bills, and we can often adjust the temperature by a few degrees and still feel comfortable.
Programmable thermostats can be particularly effective for reducing energy bills because they give you more control over how your home is cooled, such as automatically adjusting the temperature during the day vs during the night. For example, the thermostat can be set to turn domestic aircons off in the day and start cooling 15-20 minutes before you arrive, making sure you still have a comfortable home to return to. Alternatively, for commercial units, it’s possible to programme the unit to start cooling during set times in the day in order to maintain a comfortable temperature without constantly having to turn the AC on and off again.
Vacuum Indoor Vents
Aircon units need a steady flow of air to work efficiently, but dust and debris can block vents, impeding the airflow. This can be easily remedied by vacuuming the vents to help ensure air can pass through freely. You should also make sure that there’s nothing else like furniture blocking vents and check that there’s plenty of space for air to pass through freely.
Close Curtains and Blinds
On a hot day, the sun’s rays passing through your windows can create a greenhouse effect, causing your home to heat up. Naturally, this is when air conditioning is needed the most. However, to avoid having the AC constantly running on its coldest temperature, it’s always a good idea to look for ways to prevent a room from trapping heat.
This may sound simple, but by closing curtains and blinds (especially those that are directly facing sunlight) or opening windows to promote better air flow throughout the property you can ensure your aircon unit works way more efficiently in the long-term, whilst also helping you save on those electric and energy bills.
Insulate Ductwork
Ductwork will carry cooled air to where it is needed, but any ductwork that is not properly sealed might leak cool air. Any leaked air is effectively wasted because it won’t reach the room it was intended for. This means your aircon unit will just have to work harder in the long-term.
Duct-sealing tape is a secret weapon in this regard. This tape can help to plug any gaps that might be allowing air to leak out. For visual leaks in particular, UL 181-rated duct-sealing tape is the best solution and you should do a little research to make sure you’re using tape that’s the right thickness. Visual leaks are fairly easy to seal, but it’s best to have a technician inspect your ductwork regularly to make sure all leaks are sealed.
Use Your Dryer at the Right Times
Using your dryer will draw a lot of heat into the home, meaning your aircon will have to work harder. Try and avoid using the dryer when your aircon is being used to help prevent your aircon from having to work harder to keep the home cool. An ideal time might be weekdays when the home is mostly empty.
Keep Heat Away From the Thermostat
Heat-emanating appliances like lamps or boilers can cause your thermostat to warm up if they are too close. If your thermostat is warm then it will think the home is warm overall and it will tell the aircon unit to work harder. Keep any appliances that produce heat away from the thermostat to help prevent this from happening.
Clean the Outdoor Condenser Unit
Located outside your home, the condenser unit is prone to picking up dirt and debris and this can impede the unit’s effectiveness. You can clean the unit yourself and you will find plenty of guides online that will show you how. Bear in mind that for a thorough clean, it’s best to call a professional.
Keep Doors Closed
Aircon units are much more effective when they have a smaller space to cool, and an open door will make the space a lot larger. Try to keep doors closed to the rooms you are cooling and try to block any gaps where cool air might be able to escape. Open windows especially will cause a lot of cool air to escape.
Clean the Drain Line
The drain line removes excess water from your aircon unit. Over time, algae and debris can accumulate in the drain line, potentially resulting in a blockage and affecting how efficiently your aircon works. The drain line is often found in the basement and it can usually be cleaned out by pouring a cup of chlorine bleach into it. Make sure to rinse the line afterwards with a gallon of water.
Learning how your aircon system works will help you to understand how to keep it running more efficiently. That being said, we’re the aircon experts and we’re always happy to help. Contact us for more information on air conditioning efficiency as well as any other AC maintenance, installation or repair services.