As the summer months – and hot weather – approach, people all over the globe turn to their air conditioner for relief from the heat. While air conditioners do help keep your home cool and comfortable, they can get quite expensive. Luckily, you can lend a hand to your air conditioner so that it can keep you cool without costing a fortune.
So how can you minimize energy usage while still staying cool? Here are three free ways to improve the efficiency of your air conditioner:
1. Clean
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to improve the efficiency of your air conditioner is by cleaning. You should clean around the the unit, both inside and outside your home. This may be simple, but it is very effective. After all, dirt and debris – as well as obstructions – can make your AC work much harder than it should.
When cleaning around the unit inside your home, make sure to clear any obstructions that may be in the way. This could be furniture, blankets, or even curtains. Once you have done that, use a vacuum to remove dirt and debris from the air vents. Ideally, you should do this with all of the air vents in your home.
When cleaning around your unit outside of the home, make sure to remove any debris near the unit. Fallen tree branches, plants, and toys can all block your unit and reduce its efficiency. Additionally, take some time to wipe down the condenser coil on your unit. This will help prevent freezing and other issues that may occur.
2. Install a Programmable Thermostat
You can also increase the efficiency of your air conditioner by installing a programmable thermostat. As the name implies, this type of thermostat can be adjusted and programmed to fit your needs. For example, you can have the air conditioner automatically turn off when you're at work. If you are worried about a warm house, you can program the thermostat to turn the AC on just before you get home. This way you'll reduce your energy usage while still staying cool. Plus, you'll put much less strain on your unit if you are not running it constantly.
3. Turn Heat-Producing Appliances Off
Another smart way to keep your home cooler without cranking up your air conditioner is to switch your heat producing appliances off. While you do not need to keep these appliances off all the time, you should switch them off during the hottest part of the day. If you know that the weather will be particularly hot one day, switch them off. This will help keep your home cooler because there won't be as much heat being generated in your home.
Some good appliances to consider turning off (or at least not using) including the dryer, stove, and oven. All of these produce heat. So if you really want to stay cool without paying extra money, turn them off.
While the air conditioner may use a lot of energy, you minimize its impact by using these there tips to improve the efficiency of your HVAC system. If you want to save even more money, consider hiring a professional air conditioner contractor to give your air conditioner a tune-up.
Share8 June 2017
Have you ever stopped to think about the general health of your air conditioner? Although it might seem like a silly thing to worry about, air conditioners need a little tender loving care just like any other home appliance. Unfortunately, it can be hard to detect issues until your system sputters to a halt one day. My blog is all about improving your HVAC experience by learning how to keep it on point. On my blog, you will learn how to check for air conditioning problems, troubleshoot your system, and even find the perfect replacement--should you need to upgrade your system.