how to make the best use of your air conditioning

December 27, 2023

When summertime arrives, temperatures tend to rise. As a result, it’s not uncommon for air conditioners to run constantly. While this continual running might help to keep interior temperatures cool, it can also mean that your air conditioner begins working less efficiently. The tips below can help to ensure you are making the best use of your air conditioner while also lowering energy bills.

KEEP WINDOWS COVERED

Natural light is often considered advantageous, but in some instances, sunlight streaming into your home could actually cause your air conditioner to work less efficiently. If no one is at home during the day or you are not currently using a room, it’s a good idea to make certain the drapes are closed. This is particularly important for westward and eastward-facing windows, which tend to receive more sunlight.

During the evening, you should take the opposite approach and instead open your blinds or drapes. Doing so will provide the opportunity for heat to escape from your home, which maximizes cooling and reduces the amount of work for your air conditioner.

MAKE USE OF FANS

Depending on exterior temperatures, you may be able to rely on the use of fans when temperatures are not high. Even in extremely high temperatures, you can still make use of fans to ensure your air conditioner does not need to do all of the work. While a fan does require energy to function, it uses less energy than does an air conditioner. Furthermore, fans are useful for helping to circulate air throughout your home, which also helps to reduce the workload on your air conditioner.

USE AN EXHAUST FAN IN THE KITCHEN

Many people try to avoid using their stove or oven at all on particularly hot days. In the event that you cannot avoid cooking on a hot summer day, make sure you are making use of an exhaust fan. Doing so will help to eliminate hot air from inside your home.

If you do not have an exhaust fan in your kitchen, you can use a floor fan to help keep your kitchen cool. Not only will the fan help to cool things off a bit, but they will also help to dispel hot air.

CLEAN AROUND THE CONDENSER UNIT

If there are any weeds or overgrown grass around the outdoor condenser unit of your system, it could present problems with your system’s efficiency. Cleaning out the unit to ensure there is no overgrowth or debris is a great way to make certain the unit is operating well. Keep in mind that if the condenser itself needs to be cleaned, it is best to leave this to the professionals. Under no circumstances should you attempt to power wash your system’s condenser unit.

MOVE HEAT-PRODUCING APPLIANCES

Do you have heat-producing appliances situated near your home’s thermostat? If so, they should be moved in order to increase your air conditioner’s efficiency. In the event the thermostat in your home is located in an area that tends to be particularly hot, such as near a window or even an appliance, the thermostat may not be able to accurately determine your home’s interior temperature.

Ultimately, your thermostat will detect warmer temperatures and attempt to provide more cooling than is actually necessary. It might not seem as though this would make that much of a difference, but it can actually add up to significant costs over time.

The best way to handle this is to move any heat-producing appliances so that they are not located near your thermostat. If your thermostat is unfortunately situated near a window, it might be worth it to look into relocating the thermostat.

REPAIR AIR LEAKS NEAR DOORS AND WINDOWS

Air leaks can result in significant lost efficiency from your air conditioner. If your air conditioner is working overtime to keep the interior of your home cool, only to have that cooled air escape outside, you will likely experience high utility bills along with increased wear and tear on your air conditioner.

CONSIDER BOOSTING YOUR THERMOSTAT TEMPERATURE

Most people have a favorite temperature at which they keep their thermostat. You might be surprised to discover that even a slight increase in the temperature on your thermostat could make a big difference in helping you save on both utility costs as well as energy.

Investing in a programmable thermostat can provide you with the ability to automatically adjust your home’s temperature, all from the convenience of your phone. You do not even need to be at home to make such adjustments.

AVOID USING REGISTERS FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL

If you have gotten into the habit of opening or closing the registers in your home to regulate the temperature, it’s a good idea to cease this habit to maximize your air conditioner’s efficiency. Using registers for temperature control has a tremendous effect on your air conditioning system. Not only does it cause your system to work even harder, but over time, this practice can result in significant wear and tear, which might cause your system to wear out sooner than it should.

ONLY USE YOUR AC WHEN IT’S NEEDED

It does not make financial sense to have your air conditioner running when it is not needed. Auto mode might seem as though it would be a good idea, but in reality, leaving your AC on auto mode results in your system working constantly to maintain the temperature you set. Overall, this requires a tremendous amount of energy.

MAKE SURE YOUR FILTERS ARE CLEAN

One of the best ways to make certain your air conditioner is working as efficiently as possible is to ensure the filters are clean. As a general rule of thumb, your filters should be cleaned once to twice a month. This can be done by turning off the unit and then removing the filters, which can be washed or vacuumed. The filters should not be replaced until they have dried completely.

INVEST IN A ZONING SYSTEM

The best way to control different rooms in your home is with the use of zoning controls. With the implementation of zoning controls, you gain the ability to individually control certain rooms in your home or even divide your home into zones that can be individually controlled. Overall, this will help to greatly improve your system’s efficiency.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE

Another excellent way to ensure your air conditioning system is operating at peak efficiency is to schedule an appointment with a local AC specialist for preventative maintenance. A professional technician will check out your system to ensure everything is working as it should and also alert to the presence of any problems that might affect efficiency.

If your air conditioner is not working as efficiently as it should or if you simply have questions about how you can help your AC to work better, such as installing a zoning system or scheduling a maintenance visit, give us a call at Alberta Mountain Air Heating and Air Conditioning in Calgary or the surrounding area. We can also assist you with your heating needs.