Keeping Your Space Cool and Comfortable
Deep down in the south is Cajun country, Louisiana. Summers are hot and humid here, and while nobody wants to live without having an air conditioner, nobody wants to pay those electric bills. Most homes have either central air conditioning, a window air conditioner, fans or all the windows are open.
How can I reduce my AC consumption?
There are several factors that determine how efficient your air conditioner for home is and the amount of power it takes. Those factors are:
- The age and condition of the air conditioner
- The layout of your home
- The air ducts design
- How air-tight and insulated your home is
- Last, but not least, the weather
Here are eight suggestions on how to reduce your air conditioner’s power consumption:
1. Raise the thermostat one degree
You won’t be able to tell the difference between 71 degrees in a room versus 72 degrees. So why bother? To save money! Raise the air conditioner thermostat one degree and see if anyone notices.
2. Purchase a smart thermostat and program it!
If your air conditioner isn’t running, it isn’t costing you money. A smart thermostat will keep your air conditioner from running when it isn’t needed. With a smart thermostat, you can set it to automatically cut off when nobody is home and cool down (or warm up) the house so it is comfortable when you get home from work.
3. Clean air ducts gives clean airflow
Your air conditioner will use less power and be more efficient when the air ducts and vents are clean. Make sure the furniture and other objects aren’t blocking the vents too.
4.Regular professional maintenance schedule
Even when you do everything you an as a homeowner, there are parts of an air conditioner that you don’t see or can reach. A professional air conditioner technician will check all the components, fix any connections or parts that need attention, and clean, grease, or oil anything that needs it.
5. Change or clean air filters monthly
This is one thing that we cannot stress enough. A dirty air conditioner filter can’t filter the air as it needs, like a clogged sink can’t drain. The more clogged an air filter gets, the harder the air conditioner has to work, shortening its lifespan.
6. Insulate your house
To get the maximum energy-efficiency from your air conditioner, keep your house insulated to keep the cold air in where you needed it. Check the attic for insulation and insulate around the ducts, outlets, and pipes.
7. Retrofit your AC unit
Maybe your current air conditioner is working fine, but could it be more efficient? Ask your professional air conditioner technician about retrofitting more ventilation, a newer compressor or fan, and ask about retrofitting your air conditioner and purifier system too.
8. Energy efficient upgrade
If you have to buy a new air conditioner, make sure you get an upgrade model that is energy efficient.
Is it cheaper to run a window air conditioner or central air?
Having a single unit window air conditioner installation is cheaper than having a new HVAC system installed. In fact, if you have help, you don’t have to pay for installation with a window unit. You can buy the from $100 that is 5,000 BTU up to a granddaddy size unit or $1,000 that has 18,000 BTU. What size you get depends on how big of an area you’re planning on cooling with the unit.
The big question of whether a window unit set up is cheaper to operate than a central unit and the answer is yes. They do not use as much energy as a HVAC unit, even if you left it running 24/7 at full blast, a window unit wouldn’t use as much energy as a central unit.
Should I turn my AC off at night?
As energy costs keep rising, everyone is looking for ways to cut back on their utilities. If you have window unit air conditioners, by all means, turn off the units in room where you aren’t at night. Central air conditioning can work harder and cost you more money if you turn it off and allow the house to get too warm before turning it back on. So, use caution with the HVAC air conditioner system.
Can an air conditioner run 24 7?
Experts recommend that you do not run any air conditioner 24/7, even if it is the biggest unit on the market. Why? First, it is a waste of your energy cost, and the more the system runs, the quicker it is going to wear out. If you have an HVAC air condition system, buy a programmable thermostat, and utilize the feature to turn the unit off/on and up/down to keep your home at a comfortable level.
Closing Words
Your home is the place where you want to feel safe and comfortable, but you don’t want to go broke with the cost of air conditioner operation. With a few smart moves, you can be comfortable and have money left over after paying the electric bill.
