Running your AC units for several months every year can rack up a sizable electricity bill, but there are ways to mitigate that problem. Here are some tips that can help you reduce how much power is needed to cool off your house.
1 – Check your filters
The filters at your AC vents — or inside your wall-mounted AC unit — do more than just maintain your indoor air quality, they also prevent dust and other contaminants from settling inside your AC system and causing damage. On top of that, those filters become clogged up with contaminants over time. That limits airflow into the unit, which forces its motor to work harder to maintain airflow, increasing energy costs.
The solution for this is to check your AC filters regularly, clean them when you can, and replace them regularly. Most experts recommend that AC and Furnace filters be replaced every 90 days or so to maintain efficiency, this is far beyond the actuality. Where most of homes didn’t clean or change filters for multiple years. If you’re worried about indoor air quality, it’s worth noting that not all filters are created equally, so you’ll want to do your research when shopping.
2 – Regular maintenance
Speaking of expert recommendations, they also recommend that you get your AC unit serviced and maintained at least once a year. Yearly tune-ups can reduce energy costs and add several years to the expected lifespan of your AC unit.
There are several reasons why that is the case, one of them is that regular maintenance allows HVAC technicians to spot small issues with your unit before they become a bigger problem. Replacing a worn-out or faulty part before it fully breaks can prevent it from damaging other components, and it makes sure your unit is operating at maximum efficiency.
This guide goes over warning signs that indicate it is time to get your AC unit service. One of them is noticing that your energy bills are higher than usual. Mechanical problems can significantly increase how much power your AC uses.
3 – Consider an upgrade
Central air conditioning is cheaper to run than wall-mounted units. And newer air conditioners are often more efficient than older models, producing the same amount of cold for as much as 40% less energy if your AC is more than 10 years old. These factors add up to make replacing old AC units not only desirable but also cost-effective. Choose the right unit and the energy savings will cover the cost of the upgrade in a few years.
4 – Close air gaps
Insulation plays a big role in how much energy is needed to cool off your home. Make sure your doors and windows are properly weatherproofed and sealed. Old weather-strips may look intact, but they tend to become rigid and warped over time, which reduces how good they are at sealing gaps.
Faulty window installation can also leave behind troublesome air gaps, which you may be able to fix using a weatherproofing sealant.
5 – Keep the sun out
Think of what happens when you leave your car parked under a hot sun. Sunlight comes through the windows, carrying heat energy through the glass and heating up the air inside the car. That hot air has no way to escape, so the inside of the car becomes several times hotter than the area around it.
The same principle applies when your house is air-sealed but sunlight is coming through your windows. That will trap heat inside your house, which your AC unit will have to work harder to get rid of. You can solve this issue by investing in blackout curtains, and by keeping them closed in all rooms that are not being used.
All images above come from the White House apartment, beautifully designed by the AD Architecture who shared the complete project with ARCHISCENE – See the full story here
