Getting the most out of your cooling system without breaking the bank.
Nothing beats the cooling power of an air conditioner on a hot summer day. However, that comfort comes at a cost. And, with it predicted to be an even hotter summer than years before, your air conditioner may have to work extra hard to keep your home at the temperature you like.
However, with proper cooling practices your wallet doesn’t have to feel the full brunt of a hot summer. Here are some tricks that you can use to get the most out of your air conditioning system without breaking the bank.
Keep windows closed. On more mild days it can be tempting to open the windows. And, while opening the windows briefly can be a good way to relieve a stuff home, you must keep in mind that it is not your job to cool the neighborhood.
Change your furnace filter. Enhancing efficiency is all about improving airflow. A dirty, clogged filter can really be an airflow killer. Make sure you regularly keep up with filter changes – performing one at the beginning of the cooling season and the beginning of the heating season at a bare minimum.
Raise the temperature setting a few degrees. Find the highest temperature setting you are comfortable at and stick to it. A degree or two isn’t going to have a severe impact on comfort levels in your home.
But…don’t constantly change your thermostat temperature settings. You shouldn’t constantly fiddle with your thermostat. As a matter of fact, thermostats set at a lower temperature will result in equipment that runs longer and doesn’t necessarily cool any faster.
Don’t put off replacing your old model with something more efficient. While this could be a significant upfront cost, it will gradually pay off month to month. Even minimum efficiency units manufactured today are significantly more efficient than those that were manufactured ten years ago.
Set a reminder in your calendar for spring preventative maintenance next year. The most important thing you can do to make sure you are getting the most out of your air conditioner is schedule preventative maintenance in the spring. Although we are moving out of spring and into the cooling season, it can be a good idea to set a reminder for next year so that you don’t forget.
Always call your contractor if something doesn’t seem right with your system (i.e. your bills seem much higher than usual). They can help diagnose the problem or give you tips for cooling your space the most efficiently.
What do you do to maximize your air conditioner’s cooling power during the summer?