A large portion of the household energy bill can be attributed to heating and cooling of the home — especially in the extreme seasons of winter and summer. With the amount of energy that homeowners spend just on air conditioning and heating system energy costs, it only makes sense to search for ways to increase your air conditioner’s efficiency and save more money on monthly energy bills.
The following are tips to help you achieve this goal in a cost effective manner:
Ways To Increase Your Air Conditioner Efficiency
The following are several ways to increase the energy efficiency on your AC unit.
Clean The Outdoor Unit On A Regular Basis
If you have a split air conditioning unit or a central air conditioning system with the main unit outdoors, it is important that you clean the area around the outdoor unit. Removing any debris that may obstruct air flow to the unit is very important for not only day-to-day efficiency, but also for prolonging the life of your HVAC system. Restricted air flow normally forces the fan motor to work harder, which will lead to increased energy consumption and wear on parts. This is a simple measure that can be implemented by the average homeowner. However, a more thorough cleaning should be done by a professional.
Replace Your HVAC Filters
Clogged filters can cause a number of problems. For one, it will force fan motors to work harder to push air through the filters. If you find that your air filters are getting dirty very quickly, you may need to have a professional come out and take a look at your indoor air quality situation; you may have extenuating factors that should be addressed to further your indoor air quality as well as your efficiency.
Insulate Your Air Ducts
If you have a central AC, you can improve the efficiency of your system by simply insulating exposed ducts. You can also seal all holes and gaps that may leak cool air, leading to reduced energy efficiency. UL 181 – rated duct sealing tape is perfect for the job. If your ductwork is not adequately sealed and insulated, you may need to call the professionals to get a whole home audit, duct cleaning, and insulating your ductwork.
Close Blinds And Curtains During The Day
When the interior of your home is exposed to direct sunlight, indoor temperatures will rise and your AC will be forced to work extra hard to cool your home. While this will make only a small effect on the overall bills for cooling your home, every little bit counts and adds up to big savings if you take advantage of every bit of energy conservation.
Keep Heat Sources Away From The Thermostat
To ensure that your cooling system works as required, you must keep heat-emitting devices away from the thermostat. Things like furnaces, electric heaters and iron boxes should never be kept anywhere close to the thermostat, as it can give the system false readings of the ambient temperatures. Ensuring that your thermostat is taking correct readings of the internal temperature will help to improve energy efficiency.
While the above referenced tips will get you started on trimming back your monthly energy costs, there are always even more ideas that can help save homeowner money and energy. Follow our blog for all of the best money-savings tips and tricks and call Bruce’s Commercial and Residential Services today for all your heating and air conditioning needs.
Check Out Our Other Money Saving Blogs!
