With the temperatures getting warmer, you may have to consider the cost of your energy bills. Learning how to use your air conditioner efficiently will keep you cool and save money. Here are some tips on how you can increase your energy efficiency while temperatures are rising in Eureka, MO.
Schedule Regular Maintenance
Failure to properly maintain your air conditioner will lead to substantial energy consumption. Your AC won’t operate efficiently, leading to high energy bills. Dirt, dust, debris and other contaminants can clog the air filters, making your system run inefficiently.
During a maintenance check, service technicians will inspect your system and replace any clogged filters. Regular maintenance will increase the service life of your system and help you save money.
Protect Your Air Conditioner
Placing heat-producing appliances such as lamps near the thermostat can reduce the efficiency of your AC. Your thermostat can sense the heat coming from the appliances and cause your AC to run longer than required.
Open Your Vents
Contrary to popular belief that closing your vents can decrease your energy costs, you’ll lower the efficiency of your system. Closing your vents will decrease airflow in your home and lower the efficiency of your system. Open the vents in your home, even in rooms that are rarely in use, to improve airflow and your air conditioner’s performance.
Ensure You Have the Right Air Conditioner
The size of your HVAC system will determine its efficiency in cooling your home. Ensure that your system is the right size for the space you’re cooling. If you buy a more oversized air conditioner than you need, you’ll end up wasting a lot of energy.
On the other hand, if you buy a smaller air conditioner than you need, it’ll strain to cool your home, leading to discomfort. A qualified service technician can help you determine the correct size system for your home.
Depending on the size of your house and the number of rooms available, you can either choose a central air conditioner or a ductless AC. Ductless air conditioners are ideal if you only need to cool one room, while a central air conditioner is ideal for many rooms.
HVAC systems have different Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) ratings. You must choose a system with a suitable SEER rating for your home. SEER ratings range from 13 to 31 in modern air conditioners, with 13 being the minimum standard.
Older systems may have SEER ratings of 8 or 9. Look for a system with a SEER rating of 14 and above for more efficiency. A professional service technician can help you balance budget and efficacy.
Install a Dehumidifier
The level of moisture in your indoor air affects the performance of your HVAC system. High humidity can lower the efficiency of your system, leading to increased energy bills and reduced indoor air quality. You can lower the humidity in your indoor air by installing a dehumidifier.
Avoid Heat-Producing Activities
Another way of improving the energy efficiency of your system is by refraining from activities that produce heat. You can start by limiting the use of your oven and instead cook outside. Use a grill outside your home to prevent overworking your system.
After taking a shower, use bathroom fans to suck out the heat and humidity from your home. You can also cool your home using ceiling fans. Remember to turn off the ceiling fans when you leave your home as they only cool people and not the rooms.
Open Your Windows
When the temperature is high at night inside your home, you can open your windows and let cool air from the outdoor into your home. During the night, the outdoor air is cooler than the indoor air, making this a cost-effective way of improving your efficiency.
Installing window treatments like blinds, films and shades can reduce energy loss. You can also use low-cost caulk to seal openings and cracks in your home.
Indoor Comfort Team provides superior air conditioning repair and furnace services. We offer responsive emergency services. Contact Indoor Comfort Team today for all your HVAC maintenance and installation services.
Image provided by iStock
