It’s wonderful to have an air conditioning system, but it can also get pricey. When you’re enjoying the cool air inside, it can end up costing far more than you expect. In fact, air conditioners account for roughly half of your energy bill each month during the summer and the average system uses 3.5 kw hours for every hour you keep the system on.
While you may not be willing to forgo the air conditioning, it’s important to look at what you’re spending and learn how to cut costs. We can help. Here are some of our best tips for reducing the energy cost of running your air conditioning this summer.
Switch to a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats are the norm these days, so if you don’t have one, it’s time to install it. However, if you have a smart thermostat, you’ll find that you can easily adjust how much you spend on cooling. All you need to do is set the thermostat to adjust the temperature when you aren’t home.
There’s no reason to keep a house ice cold when you aren’t even there. Unless you have pets, you can allow the temperature to rise considerably. For example, it can go up while you are at work and then drop again just before you arrive home.
It’s possible to lower your energy costs by around 10% simply by adjusting the temperature when you aren’t around.
Use Natural Cooling
In the morning, while it’s still cool outside, you should open your windows and let the fresh air in. This will help your home feel more comfortable and inviting, but it also lowers the temperature naturally.
Your air conditioning system won’t need to kick in as early and you can often enjoy the cool outdoor air for several hours before you actually need the A/C.
Be Sure to Seal All Gaps
Glazed windows are a good way to save money on cooling costs, but you should also check the surrounding windowsill for potential draughts. If the hot air can get in, cold air can get out and you will find yourself battling to use the air conditioner.
Doors are another area that can become draughty, particularly underneath. Be sure to use weatherstripping where possible so you can avoid any issues with keeping the area cool.
Block the Windows
The more heat you have inside the home, the more energy will be wasted while trying to cool it. To prevent the sun from warming the space through the windows, be sure to block them. You can do this with heavy curtains, shutters or similar. Some people use awnings over the windows to cast shade, but still allow light to flow in.
Shade Your Unit
The sun can drastically affect the efficiency of your air conditioning unit. If it’s outside and being heated all day long, it’s going to take more energy to cool the air. You can aid this a little by placing an awning or a shade sail over the external part of the air conditioner. It may seem like a simple thing, but it does make a big difference.
Decorate Your Home Properly
Your interior design has an effect on your air conditioning unit’s efficiency. Look at where you have your furniture set up. If anything is blocking a vent, you should be careful to move it and make sure the air flow is optimal.
Often, it just takes moving a few things around to ensure the air flow is more efficient. Consider how the air exits the vents and where it hits and bounces. This will help you design the spaces in your home with an eye for increasing the coolness.
Do Regular Maintenance on the Unit
All air conditioning units require ongoing maintenance and ensuring that they are in top working condition is the best way to reduce energy usage. To do this, you can either have a maintenance company handle the air conditioner cleaning and such, or you can do it yourself.
You’ll need to clean the ducts and ensure they don’t have dust or cobwebs in them. This allows the cold air to flow freely. You should also be sure nothing is covering the vents. It’s also a good idea to ensure that the ducts are sealed so the cold air is only going to the necessary areas.
Filters will need to be cleaned or replaced on a regular basis, as well. A clogged filter makes the machine work hard to push the air through and this can use up a lot of energy.
The condenser coil needs to be brushed down and cleaned, as well. It tends to collect debris and dust, which reduces its efficiency. You should be careful not to bend the fins, but it can be gently cleaned to improve efficiency.
The debris around the outdoor unit should be removed frequently. You can usually just rake it away, and pull any extra bits out of the vents. While you’re there, check the condensate drain to be sure the water is draining correctly. Over time, it’s possible for algae or debris to collect and block it up.
Add Fans to Your Space
Lowering the temperature of the air in a room requires taking steps to move it around in the house. You can use fans, particularly ceiling fans, to help keep the air moving. It will make you feel cooler, as well, so you can actually turn the thermostat up a little. Even a few degrees higher will help drop the energy usage considerably.
Set the fans up so they move the air through the house, rather than simply swirling it around. This will help you keep the entire place feeling breezy and cool. It’s also considerably cheaper than air conditioning.
Adapt to the Heat
You don’t need to stay cold all the time. In fact, most people are quite comfortable at higher temperatures once they get used to it. The acclimatisation is the difficult part, but once you’ve spent some time in the warmth, it will be rather simple.
There’s nothing wrong with having air conditioning, but it’s also not necessary for people to live in extreme coolness. See what temperatures you’re comfortable with and see if you can become used to something that is just a little higher than usual. Even a couple of degrees can really affect how much energy is being used.
Keep the Heat Outside
As we mentioned before, it’s not worth heating up the interior of the house. There are many little things that can make the space feel hotter, so you need to know when to wait for the evenings. For example, cooking on the stovetop or baking can raise the heat considerably and it takes a lot more energy for the air conditioning to reduce the temperature to a comfortable one.
Instead of cooking indoors, use the microwave or opt for an outdoor grill. You should also be aware that large speakers, computers, and even lamps can give off heat, which will make the air conditioning unit work even harder.
Other things that will heat up your space include:
- Speakers
- Computers, particularly desktop computers
- Indoor lighting and lamps
- Televisions
- Monitors
It’s best to avoid anything that could raise the heat, particularly if the thermostat is sensing it. Not only will you feel hotter, but the air conditioner will increase its workload and burn through even more energy.
As with most things, lowering energy usage when it comes to your air conditioning is simply a matter of taking care of things. When you look after your equipment, it will work better for you.
Are you looking for an air conditioning installer or do you need maintenance work done on your unit? At Mitchell’s we pride ourselves on doing a wonderful job of maintaining and installing AC units. Contact us now to learn more.