Tips To Reduce Air Conditioner Energy Usage

One potential drawback of summer is the higher than usual cost of electricity.

Fans and air conditioners rush to the front lines to protect the home from the onslaught of the sun. However, while this may provide short-term satisfaction, it may come as a rude awakening when you open your next utility bill. We know you want to spend as little as possible on your energy bills, as this benefits you and the planet. Here are three often-overlooked strategies for cutting down on the energy required by your air conditioner.

Swap out those air filters

You wouldn’t believe how quickly your filter starts to get clogged because of all the trash particles constantly floating around in the air. This means dirt and dust will start getting through and into your air conditioner. In addition, your air conditioner’s components can’t get enough air to work correctly if the filter is blocked. Your air conditioner will have to work more to filter and push out air if you put off changing the filter.

What will happen if you don’t change your air conditioner’s filter?

Blower fan and Duct debris accumulation

The stress on the overall air conditioning system is increased when ventilation is impeded.

The moving components of your air conditioner (such as the valves and fan motors) are impeded by debris.

To compensate for the decreased airflow, the air conditioner will use much more electricity than necessary if the filter is clogged.

A proliferation of mold due to excessive moisture

A high-efficiency filter in your air conditioner won't prevent mold from growing in your ductwork and spreading to other parts of your home if you don't change it regularly.

Air is filtered through the AC inside around six times a day. Since pollen, bacteria, and mold can develop within if the filter is blocked, the air being pumped out of the air conditioning system poses significant health concerns to those exposed.

Depending on how often you change the filters, your air conditioner might last anywhere from 15 to 20 years. But if you don't replace the filter frequently, it can reduce the life of your air conditioner by as much as ten years. You may save money on your monthly utility bill by about 15 percent if you change your air conditioner's filter once a month when you use it the most (because it becomes hot outside and you need a place to cool off).

Have trouble remembering when it's time to swap out the air filter in your unit? Relax, since you can rely on Best Owner Direct HVAC.

Turn on both the AC and fan at the same time

Most individuals start using the fan setting as spring turns into summer. When summer arrives, the fan takes a back seat to the air conditioner. In any case, that's what the vast majority of people do, and it holds. Fans do the trick when the air starts to feel stifling, but they can't do the job when the sun radiates heat into every room's crevice. Therefore, it is rational and cost-effective for most people to switch to using the air conditioner when temperatures soar. What if I told you it made more sense to keep them on simultaneously?

What should be the temperature of your AC?

It may seem counterintuitive to use the air conditioner and fan simultaneously at the expense of the electricity they consume. However, the secret is to operate them both on reduced settings, which will result in significant cost savings. Most people crank up the air conditioning when it's boiling outside. Still, a more energy-efficient strategy is keeping the house at a temperature roughly the same as the outside air. If it's 80 degrees outdoors, you shouldn't set your air conditioner lower than 75 or 78 degrees (what you would likely be inclined to set it at). However, if the fan runs in sync with the AC, the room temperature can drop by as much as 4 degrees Fahrenheit even though the AC is set to the same setting. If it's 80 degrees outside, you may turn on the fan in addition to the air conditioner to get a more comfortable temperature inside the home (say, 71 degrees).

The Logic Behind it

So, let's have a moment to discuss chemistry. Warm air rises to the ceiling while cooler air sinks to the floor because of the principle of thermal convection. Your air conditioner may be blowing out icy air, but it may not be circulating as effectively as it could because cold air tends to settle instead of moving around a room. When you turn on the fan, the cool air that has been trapped in the cooler parts of the room will be pushed to the warmer areas, making it easier to maintain a suitable temperature throughout the entire room. Particularly if your home has multiple stories, much of the warm air will be trapped on the higher floors, making the lower levels feel much colder than they are.

Schedule regular AC maintenance visits

Although it may not seem like it at the time, keeping up with routine AC maintenance is money well spent. You may save money in the long run by keeping up with routine maintenance on your air conditioner. It will also be able to retain up to 95% of its original efficiency even after several years have passed. If you have a technician check on your air conditioner often, they will be able to spot any problems in the early stages before they cause significant disruptions. Neglected problems, even if they appear small at the moment, can quickly snowball into substantial costs that you could have avoided otherwise. And since you won't have to shell out for new machinery often, routine system checkups are a great way to save money. You can reach our maintenance experts easily, so don't put off scheduling an appointment if it's past due.

A central air conditioning system is the most cost-effective means of keeping cool over the summer. This summer, relax knowing that Best Owner Direct HVAC provides a variety of air conditioning devices that are both efficient and affordable. We've got you covered!