No matter what type of cooling system you’re using to keep your home comfortable, there’s a good chance that you’d like to pay less to use it. But as we progress into August, there’s no doubt that your energy bills are going to rise. After all, our air conditioners get a lot of use during this time of the year, and go through a lot of stress as a result.
If your air conditioner isn’t working as efficiently as possible, this exacerbates the problem. If you find yourself paying too much to cool your home and are unsure if there’s any way to change that, we have good news! There are a few ways to change this. Read on to learn more.
Schedule Preventive Maintenance
Scheduling routine maintenance for your air conditioner—annually for a standard central system, biannually for a year-round heat pump—is the number one way to ensure its efficiency. During your maintenance tune-ups, our professionals thoroughly and comprehensively inspect, clean, and adjust components within the system.
We also alert you to repair needs so you can get them on your schedule now before they turn into bigger emergencies.
All of this helps your air conditioner perform as efficiently as it possibly can on its own—but there’s more you can do as well. Keep reading!
Adjust Your Thermostat
Are you one of those homeowners who sets the thermostat down in the lower 70s, hoping it will help cool your home faster? The good news is you’re not alone. But the bad news is, this isn’t having the effect you want.
All this does is make the compressor turn on sooner and run longer, and that is where people run into efficiency issues. Most people are comfortable in temperatures around 78°F, and your home will cool down just as fast on a hot day at this setting (but you’ll pay less for it).
Ensure Your System Is Unobstructed
We’re talking inside and out! First, check the area surrounding your outdoor unit. Is it free of debris such as branches, lawn mulch, leaves, etc.? All of these items can restrict airflow, causing your air conditioner to behave inefficiently and therefore cost you more to run it.
The same goes for anything obstructing the vents indoors. Do you have furniture, kids’ toys, or backpacks blocking your indoor registers and vents? This is going to create a problem! An air conditioner simply cannot do its job as effectively—or efficiently—if you’re not cognizant of this.
Change the Air Filter!
There’s a common misconception that the standard air filter in an HVAC system is there to protect the home’s indoor air quality. It’s actually in place to protect the inside components of your air conditioner from dirt, dust, and other debris that can restrict airflow and hurt efficiency in other ways as well.
While it depends on the type of air filter and how heavily you use your air conditioner, this filter should be changed every 1–3 months, and it’s a small maintenance task you can do on your own. Of course, if you have any questions please don’t ever hesitate to reach out to our team.
Contact AllTech Services, Inc. today for professional Ashburn air conditioning services.