Ways to Increase Your Air Conditioner's Efficiency
Posted on: 18 August 2016
As August rolls in, there's one thing that you can expect: heat and plenty of it. When it comes to combating brutal heat waves, one of the best things you can do for yourself is invest in an air-conditioning unit. However, such a unit is not necessarily the most inexpensive of endeavors. Luckily, there are a few things you can do that will help you combat costs while combating the heat. Read on and discover just a few ways that you can increase your air conditioner's efficiency.
Use Fans
What makes air conditioners great is that they literally cool air and send it out into your room. The problem with an air-conditioning unit is that while it does have a blowing mechanism, it is not necessarily strong. Use fans in tandem with your air-conditioning unit to get a better sense of circulation in your home and help you save on costs. After your air conditioner has ceased running, ceiling fans and even box fans can help to continue circulating cool air all about your home, and this will save you a bit of cash and ensure your rooms do not become too terribly stuffy.
Adjust Temperatures
There's a certain sweet spot your air conditioner can be set to that will ensure that your room is decently cool but also save you a bit of money. This is due to the fact that the cooler your air conditioner has to make the air, the harder it has to work, and this will make your air conditioner a bit less energy efficient. Keep your temperature at around 78 degrees at all times. If you leave the house for just a bit—perhaps upwards of an hour—and still want it to remain cool, turn the temperature up a few degrees to about 80. During times in which you leave your home for longer hours, simply turn off the air conditioner completely.
Regularly Change Your Air Filters
Your air conditioner's air filter is what keeps debris, foreign objects, and other nasty pollutants out of your air conditioner. If you have a centralized unit, it will also suck things out of your air ducts. A dirty air filter will also make it more difficult to pump air through your unit, causing your air conditioner to struggle a bit and have to work harder to achieve normal results. During peak usage of your air conditioner—usually the summer months—take the time to switch out your air filter with a fresh one approximately once a month.
To learn more about taking care of your air conditioner, look into HVAC training courses near you.
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