How to Keep Your Air Conditioner Efficient
As we move into the warmer parts of the year, it's important to make sure you have an efficient air conditioner. Air conditioning is a huge portion of your energy bills during the summer months, so saving as much as you can on them is important. An efficient air conditioner will be able to keep your home much more cool and comfortable while keeping your energy costs low.
At Steve Basso Plumbing, Heating & AC, LLC, our professional Fairfield plumbers and HVAC contractors are dedicated to helping homeowners keep the air conditioners running well throughout every part of the year. We’ve also compiled a list of a few ways you can keep your AC efficient as the weather starts to heat up:
Yearly Tune-Ups
We recommend that you have your air conditioner tuned up at least once each year. During a tune-up, we’ll find any necessary repairs and make sure your Fairfield home’s AC unit is as healthy as it can be. If you want to get the best performance and the longest life-span out of your AC, this is one of the best ways to achieve it.
Clean Your Machine
Your air ducts are what distribute conditioned air through your home, so if they're dirty, you can lose a lot of efficiency. Cleaning your ducts may require professional help, but you'll see the difference in your cooling costs immediately, and your home will also be much more comfortable. You should also change your air filters once every three months while you're cooling your home or, again, you'll be wasting energy.
Get the Flue
If there's a chimney in your Fairfield home, make sure the flue is sealed when you're heating or cooling. This is easy to overlook, but lots of air can escape through your chimney, and warmer air can come in.
Circulate
Ceiling fans will help circulate the conditioned air through your home, which will help maintain a cooler temperature and allow your AC to do a little less work. For the most efficient air conditioner, you can also use vent booster fans to increase circulation.
Ventilate
In rooms where you sometimes produce heat, like the kitchen or bathroom, ventilation fans can help move hot air from the indoors to outside, which will help to keep your entire home cooler.
Insulate
Whether it's your ducts, your windows, or your doors, any part of your home with any openings should be sealed and insulated to keep your air conditioner efficient. Older windows may need to be repaired or even replaced in order to keep in air. Making sure your conditioned air isn't escaping from your Fairfield home will save you tons on energy costs.
Get the Timing Right
Try to avoid using appliances that create a lot of heat except in the coolest parts of the day. Don't cook with your oven or use your dishwasher until the evening, when your home needs the help staying cool. This will help keep your home cooler, taking some of the load off of your AC unit's shoulders.