The sun is beating down, and you’re sweating in your home. You know you can’t afford to be running the air conditioner all day, so what can you do? Well, fortunately, you have a few options, but your best bet will probably be to make your AC more efficient, which will allow you to run it more frequently while also saving some money in the process.
Here are five tips to help you battle the heat this summer with an air-conditioner that runs more efficiently.
Have your AC inspected
While it may seem obvious that you should have your air conditioning system checked and serviced regularly, most people forego this important step.
You should have your AC inspected and maintained at least once per season, but preferably once every three months. This will ensure that your central AC unit is running smoothly, allowing you to enjoy cool air all summer without breaking the bank!
The technician who comes out for an inspection should check for leaks or inadequate refrigerant in the unit as well as ensuring there isn’t any mold growing inside.
They will also clean all exposed parts of your ductwork to remove any dust, pet dander, etc., which could clog up filters or restrict airflow through the vents – potentially leading to higher energy bills due to high power consumption caused by poor ventilation efficiency!
Clean or replace the filters
You should also check the filters on your AC unit every month. Dirty filters can cause the AC to work harder than necessary, thus consuming more energy and raising your bills. This can cause allergens to spread through the air, which is bad news for anyone living with asthma or allergies.
If your filter is dirty, be sure to clean it. If it’s not reusable, replace it as soon as possible with a new one of the same size and type as that recommended by your manufacturer. Also, be sure that you never run your system without a filter in place!
Move the thermostat away from heat sources
The thermostat is a device that measures the heat in your home. It then turns on the AC when it senses a higher temperature than you’ve set it to. If your thermostat is near sources of heat, like an oven or window with direct sunlight, then your thermostat will tell your AC to run more frequently. You can prevent this by moving the thermostat away from sources of heat and light, including:
- windows
- lights
- ovens
- any other source of light or heat
Use a Smart or Wi-Fi thermostat to save money
With a smart or Wi-Fi thermostat, you can make your AC even more efficient and save money. Programmable thermostats are relatively inexpensive to buy and easy to install. Plus, they allow you to adjust the temperature in your home from your phone, which makes it easy to monitor and maintain the optimal temperature in your house or shut off your AC remotely if you forgot to do so before heading out.
Keep your windows and doors closed
When you’re at home, closing your windows and doors and keeping them closed will keep the cool air inside. The AC doesn’t need to work as hard to keep up with the temperature in your home. The cooling process is much less strenuous and, therefore, less expensive for both your wallet and the environment since using less energy means using fewer fossil fuels to power the AC unit.
As long as there aren’t any leaks, keeping your doors and windows closed will mean that when the AC does turn on, it can bring down the temperature more quickly than if there were an open doorway for heat to escape through.
To learn more about how you can make your AC more efficient, or if you need AC repair in Mokena, IL, be sure to get in touch with the experts.
Contact Johansen & Anderson Inc to schedule an appointment with our professionals. Call J&A today, sleep-tight tonight.