This is it, the summer you’ve been waiting for. Not the one with the best weather or the funnest activities, but the one where your home stays cool and you’re not paying an arm and a leg for it. It’s the dream you didn’t even know you have.
And our team is here to help. You are welcome to give us a call for AC repair in Abington, PA when you need it. But, we’re also highlighting our best tips below for improving your AC efficiency this summer. It’s a great way to cut costs while also protecting your air conditioner from needless wear and tear.
Check Your Vents
Your first step in improving AC energy efficiency is to check all of the vents in your home. During a cooling cycle, you want to hold your hand up to each vent and make sure you feel a strong stream of cool air. If you don’t, that’s a problem and your air conditioner may need repairs.
You also want to make sure that your air vents are not obstructed by any furniture. If the furniture is too close to an air vent, the cold air can get trapped in your ductwork and never blow out into your home. You may think it’s not a huge deal if a single vent is blocked, but it really is. The air vents in your home have a Layout completely unique to your floor plan. Each vent plays a vital role and making sure that cool air spread evenly throughout your home.
Change the Air Filter
Your next stop should be the air filter. Check and see how often you need to change your particular air filter. Some of them are rated to last for a month, while other air filters can last for up to three months. Make sure that you’re changing your air filter on time, every time. You may even want to check your air filter a little early when it’s near time to change it in case the filter is particularly dirty one month. Too much dirt can block airflow into your air conditioner, causing it to work harder and use more energy.
Check Door and Window Seals
You can also take steps to make sure that your home is sealed properly to keep cool air in and heat out. Check all of your doors and windows to make sure that they are completely airtight. If you notice any broken seals or gaps, get them fixed when you can. Cool air is likely escaping, causing your air conditioner to use more energy as it tries to keep your home cool.
Clean the Outdoor Unit
After you’re done inside, it’s time to check your outdoor unit. Since it is exposed to the elements all day every day, it’s easy for the outdoor unit to get dirty. You can spray it off with gentle water pressure using your hose. You can also use a spatula to gently straighten out any fins that are bent. This helps ensure that heat and humidity can escape outside to keep your home cooler.
Maintain Space Around the Thermostat
Just like your air vents, you want to make sure there is space around your thermostat. If you have a piece of furniture that is too close to your thermostat, it may make up the temperature reading higher. Your thermostat will then signal your air conditioner to stay on for longer or run more frequent cooling cycles in an effort to cool your home. You may be pleased with how comfortable your home is, but you’re really cooling it more than you should be. This is a problem that can quickly make your energy bills skyrocket.
And while you’re at the thermostat, go ahead and set the temperature a couple of degrees higher. Many homeowners like their thermostats to be set around 72°. But the US Department of Energy actually recommends that you keep it closer to 78° for the most energy efficiency. If you’re not comfortable setting the temperature that high quite yet, you can go up a degree at a time and save money all along the way.
Contact Dowd Mechanical Heating & Air Conditioning to schedule an appointment for AC service. A Degree Above the Rest.
