Making the best use of your air conditioner will help you lower your utility bill, limit wear and tear on your unit, and gain more efficiency. Here are a few tips to help you make the best use of your AC unit.
1. Use Fans to Help Cool Yourself
Fans, especially ceiling fans, can help keep you stay cooler when you’re in any particular space of your home. A fan doesn’t help to lower the temperature, but it does help make you feel cooler.
With a fan, you can raise your thermostat and let the AC unit maintain a more energy-efficient temperature. The fan will put in the work of keeping you feeling comfortable. Note that if you’re not using a fan, you can turn it off. The fan only helps your air conditioner when you’re actively using it to stay cool.
2. Keep the Sun From Interfering With Cooling
The sun will shine into your windows and raise the temperature in those rooms. Your AC unit will continuously work harder as it tries to keep the temperature of those areas in line with your thermostat and the overall temperature of the house.
You can mitigate this extra work by simply drawing the curtains or blinds wherever the sun is shining through on a hot day. This tactic applies mainly to windows that face the sun on hot days. You don’t have to eliminate all of your natural light.
3. Minimize the Use of Heat-Generating Appliances
Your house likely contains several appliances that generate a lot of heat, such as the washer, dryer, oven, dishwasher, and more. You may not think so, but these and other appliances generate enough heat to cause your AC unit to work a little harder to keep the overall indoor temperature maintained.
Using smaller appliances, such as a microwave, can help. You can also wait until it’s cooler outside before you run larger appliances. Grilling outside, washing dishes by hand, and hanging clothes out to dry are also tasks you can do to keep indoor heat generation to a minimum.
4. Try Other Small Steps That Add Up
There are other small things you can do you help the efficiency of your air conditioner. For example, you can maintain or increase airflow by making sure you keep your air ducts and vents clean and free of debris or obstructions.
You can also upgrade to a smart thermostat to give you more control and energy-saving automation options for your AC unit. Around the home, make sure your window and other seals are in good shape. These and other tips will help you make the best use of your cooling system.
5. Routinely Service and Maintain Your AC
Maintenance is incredibly important when it comes to getting the best use of your air conditioning system. Keep the outside and inside of your unit clean and free of debris. Also, replace or clean your air filters regularly. You don’t have to do an in-depth cleaning on components you’re not sure about. Do what you can, and then leave the rest to our professionals.
Preventing problems from developing goes a long way toward increasing the useable life of your AC unit. Consider that the cost of maintaining your air conditioner, even with the use of scheduled professional service, will cost you a lot less in many ways than dealing with a catastrophic problem that requires extensive repairs.
Professional maintenance will also help to keep the components of your air conditioner in good working condition. A technician will make sure you have a calibrated system while looking for problems.
Our technicians at Rosenberg Plumbing & Air can also inspect refrigerant levels, look for leaks in the unit or ductwork, check for accuracy, and do various other tasks to ensure you’re making the best use of your AC unit.
6. Repair Your AC Sooner Than Later
Your AC unit will often let you know when it’s developing a problem or already has one. A few things to look and listen for can include:
- Constant cycling
- Uneven air distribution
- Spikes in utility bills
During the hot summer months in San Antonio, you’ll want to ensure your AC unit is working optimally so you can stay cool indoors. If your air conditioner requires repairs, see to them as soon as possible. AC issues won’t go away on their own. Instead, they’ll grow more problematic and become more expensive to fix the longer you wait. If there’s an issue with your air conditioner with no obvious solution, turn to us at Rosenberg Plumbing & Air.
Our team also provides residential and commercial cooling and heating services in San Antonio and the surrounding areas. If you need installation, repair, inspection, or maintenance services, contact Rosenberg Plumbing & Air today.
Tags: AC Efficiency, AC Tips