10 Energy Saving Tips for your Air Conditioning
When temperatures continue to climb, air conditioning isn’t only necessary.. it’s a must. And it’s just as important to save on energy while running your ac. Here are some energy saving tips to keep in mind this summer:
2. If you only need to cool a portion of your home, use a window or portable unit in the space you need it. While cooling your entire home ideal, it may not be necessary all the time. Window and portable units use up 50% less energy than a central air unit.
3. Close Off Vents. The basement is normally the coolest room in the home, so try closing all the vents in the lower part of your home. The cool air will trickle down there naturally and by closing those vents, you're forcing all the air up top first, cooling as it comes down.
4. Service Your Unit. Some basic maintenance might be all your air conditioner needs, but will greatly benefit from. Hosing down your ac filter, especially if you're plagued with nearby trees and brush, can keep your ac unit from working harder.
5. Check your ac ducts. Making sure the areas where your ac ducts run through parts of your home that receive no air conditioning, like the attic, are well insulated. This will keep the air coming in as cool as possible. Otherwise it would be like paying for half cool air.
6. Try rearranging your furniture. Furniture that is in the way of air conditioning vents means you could be cooling the back of a chair or the bottom side of your couch. There are plastic pieces you can buy for your vents to help force air in the right direction, but the easiest way is to just rearrange your furniture, even if only temporarily.
7. 78 degrees is a good point for an air conditioner to run at its top performance level. It’s a lot like a car on cruise control coasting on a long, flat stretch of road.
8. Turning the lights off can help reduce the heat in your home, but paying attention to how much light you let in from an open windows can also play a significant role. Although it might seem crazy to open and close your windows every day with the changing of the sun, it makes a big difference on how much heat your ac has to cool down.
9. While you're away from home turn your AC up to 85 and make sure the windows and drapes are closed. Even though it’ll be hot for a few minutes when you come home, the blinds will help keep the sun out and the heat won't be as heavy. This will keep your unit from having to work overtime to cool the room back down.
10. Don't forget to turn on the fan. We rely on air conditioners to keep things cool, but having a few fans on will help. Using them to circulate the cool air means you don't need quite as much help from your air conditioner.
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