There’s no doubt that your air conditioning system gets a lot of use during the summer. Unfortunately, if your system isn’t operating efficiently, you could end up with some costly energy bills. By implementing the five tips that we’re going to cover, you can help ensure that your system is operating as efficiently as possible as the temperatures start to rise.
1. Schedule Professional Maintenance Service
One of the absolute best things that you can do to increase the operating efficiency of your air conditioning system is to get professional maintenance service early in the spring. This service will ensure that your system is operating efficiently by taking care of all its internal components.
From testing electrical connections and inspecting blower compartment components to calibrating your thermostat and recharging your system’s refrigerant level, professional maintenance service includes many helpful tasks. It’s also important to know that it’s typically a requirement to maintain warranty coverage on your cooling system.
2. Change Your Air Filter
The air filter inside your air conditioning system is responsible for removing harmful debris from the air. It does this by trapping the airborne particles inside its filter material. Unfortunately, when the filter traps too much debris and reaches the end of its lifespan, it will create a wall that will be hard for your air conditioning system to pull air through.
It’s important to change this filter on a regular basis to keep your system operating efficiently. Put a new filter in at the start of the spring season, and check your filter at least once a month throughout the summer so that you can replace it as needed.
3. Keep the Outdoor Unit Clean
The outdoor condenser unit for your air conditioning system is necessary to release the heat from inside your home to the outdoors. Whenever too much debris pushes up against the outdoor condenser unit, it restricts its airflow and ability to release its heat. This can cause inefficient system operation and raise the temperature inside your home.
It’s a good idea to check your outdoor condenser unit early in the spring and at least once a month throughout the summer. Remove any debris like leaves or twigs that may be up against the side of the unit. Be sure to trim back low-hanging branches, vines, and shrubbery within around 2 to 3 feet of the unit. You may want to consider installing a fence to help catch any blowing debris to prevent it from getting up against the condenser.
In springtime, it’s also a good idea to take a look at the fins on the unit’s exterior. These should be facing horizontally to allow for optimal heat release. If any of the fins are bent, bend them back into their original horizontal position so that they can operate efficiently.
4. Install a Smart or Programmable Thermostat
One great addition to your air conditioning system is a smart or programmable thermostat. This allows you to program different temperature settings so that you can optimize your energy usage. You can set the temperature higher at times when you know you’re going to be away, like when you’re at work. This will keep your system from running too often when no one is home to enjoy the air conditioning.
5. Upgrade the Whole HVAC System
If you’re really struggling with the efficiency of your air conditioning system, the problem may be simply that it’s too old. AC systems tend to get less efficient as they age. You may want to upgrade to a new cooling system to better meet your needs and reduce your energy bills throughout the upcoming summer.
To further increase the efficiency of your system, you can create zones. Doing this will allow you to set different temperatures for different areas of your home to optimize your comfort and energy usage. For example, if you have a two-story home, it’s likely that the upper level will feel hotter than the lower level. This is just because heat naturally rises. You can resolve this issue by making a different zone upstairs so that you can set that zone at a lower temperature than your zone downstairs. This will ensure that your air conditioning system is cooling the upstairs only when it’s too warm instead of cooling your entire home when it isn’t necessary.
Use Ceiling Fans
Apart from the strategies we went over above to increase the operating efficiency of your air conditioning system, there are other things that you can do throughout your home to help reduce the runtime of your air conditioning system. One of the best things to do is install ceiling fans. These allow you to create a gentle breeze that blows down to cool you naturally. When you feel cooler in your home, you’ll have no need to overwork your air conditioning system.
Be Mindful of Air Vents
The air vents for your air conditioning system play a big role in its overall operating efficiency. If you block any of the supply vents for your system, it won’t be able to deliver cold air throughout the room. Early in the spring, it’s a good idea to walk around to all your supply and return vents in each room of your home to make sure that they’re completely open, and no obstructions are blocking their flow of air.
Block Out Natural Sunlight
Natural sunlight can be a big problem when it comes to the temperature inside your home. Having windows that allow direct sunlight can allow your indoor temperature to rise by 10 degrees Fahrenheit or more. It’s best to use curtains or blinds to block out the natural sunlight throughout the daytime hours to prevent the sun from heating up your home.
Seal Off Air Leaks
If there are air leaks on the exterior walls of your home, the hot air from outside can easily seep into your home and alter your interior temperature. Instead of allowing your air conditioning system to run nonstop to combat this heat intrusion, it’s best to seal off those air leaks. You can use weather stripping, caulking, or even spray foam insulation to seal up any air leaks that you find.
These leaks are most commonly found around window and door frames on your exterior walls. However, you may find that the light switches and outlets on your exterior walls are also allowing hot air to come in during the summer months. For these locations, you can use a foam insert pad that sits behind the cover plate to block that hot airflow.
Helpful AC Maintenance Service
Air Care Heating & Cooling offers helpful AC maintenance service for our customers in the Shawnee, KS community. We can also help with all your cooling repair, new installation, and system replacement needs.
Simply call our team at Air Care Heating & Cooling today to schedule a service consultation with one of our knowledgeable HVAC technicians.
