If there’s one thing most people can agree on these days it’s that we need to find ways to save money. Energy bills are just another thing that’s through the roof, but with costs going up everywhere, you might be interested in ways you can help reduce your energy costs – especially with the warmer months just around the corner.
Here are a few things to avoid if you want to get the most out of your air conditioner for years to come.
Ignoring Your Air Filter
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Your air filters may be expensive or a pain to change, but you need to do it anyway. They remove dust and other allergens and are designed to be replaced on a regular basis.
If you don’t replace them, the filter will get clogged with dirt, making it difficult for air to move through. This in turn causes your unit to work harder than it should.
Just replacing a dirty filter can improve your energy use by 5%-15%, so remembering to keep up is a simple way to keep things running smoothly.
Neglecting Your Fins and Coils
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Evaporator coils and fins allow heat to pass from the refrigerant out into the air, and condenser coils absorb heat from inside the house.
All you really need to know, though, is that your system’s ability to move heat is essential, and build up dust and grime can stop that from happening.
Clean your outdoor air conditioning unit every spring and then check on it from time to time to make sure nothing has blown into it or is obstructing it.
Not Setting Your Thermostat
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With today’s available technology, there’s no excuse for not having a programmable thermostat (preferably one you can run from your smartphone). This allows you to control the temperature during the day, setting it higher when no one is home and then lower say, at night while you’re trying to sleep.
Modern thermostats, like Google’s Nest, can even learn your habits and adjust the thermostat accordingly. If you haven’t upgraded yet, there’s no time like the present.
Using It On an Empty House
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You know those programmable thermostats we were just talking about? One thing they can do is allow you to stop cooling the house when no one is going to be home.
Not Checking Your Drain
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Most systems use floor drains that remove condensation and other incidental water by moving excess outdoors.
If that drain gets clogged, though, it could be a disaster of epic proportion – and not just for your AC unit. Make sure those drain lines are clean; you might want to have someone snake the line every year or two if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself.
Lowering the Temperature Too Far
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If you come home and your house is stifling, you might be tempted to turn the thermostat all the way down in the hopes it will cool your space faster.
That’s not the case, though, so don’t give in to the idea that setting it lower than you want is going to do any good.
Delaying a Checkup
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You should have an experienced technician come out at the beginning of the spring/summer every year to check and make sure things are running smoothly and that you don’t need to adjust your refrigerant levels.
It’ll save you money in the long run.
There are some great tips here if you’re new at owning a home or making sure you maintain it correctly on your own.
Try not to stress; the biggest thing you can do is just make sure you’re paying attention.
