Save money (and your air conditioner from overuse) with these energy saving tips:
Keep your AC lower at night.
During the night, you don't need the same level of conscious cool. Try turning your AC (air conditioner) down (so it’s running less) during your sleep hours or, if your unit has one, utilise the "sleep mode" which will lower the output of a timer.
Use window or portable units.
If you aren't into cooling your entire home, try using a portable unit to cool just the area you'll be working in. It uses up to 50% less energy than a larger central air unit will do to cool off the same space.
Close off vents.
Traditionally, the basement is the coolest room. Try closing all the vents in the lower portion of your home. The cool air will naturally slink down there and by closing those vents, you're forcing all the air up top first, cooling as it comes down.
Service your unit.
A few basic maintenance might be all your AC needs, but most will greatly benefit from a good hosing out, most especially if you're plagued with pesky trees like cottonwoods, which drop seeds that stick to the filters and make the unit work harder.
Check your ducts.
Make sure the areas where your ducts run through parts of your home without air conditioning, such as the attic, are properly insulated in order to keep the air coming in as cool as it can be.
Rearrange your furniture.
Furniture that obstructs air conditioning vents means you can be cooling the back of a chair or the bottom side of your sofa. Although you might appreciate the thought, you'd rather have that chill for yourself instead. There are plastic pieces you can purchase 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.
Try 78 degrees.
For an AC to run at its optimal performance level, 78 degrees is already a good point. Think of it as a car on cruise control headed across the flat Midwest prairie. It's not chugging along going uphill, but just plugging away, steady as it goes.
Pay attention to the lighting.
Turning the lights off can help reduce the heat, but paying attention to how much light you let in from open windows can also play a significant role. Though it may seem neurotic to open and close your windows every day with the changing of the sun, it makes a huge difference in how much heat your AC is competing against.
Do this when you’re away from home:
If you can, turn your AC up to 85 and ensure the windows and drapes are closed. Although it will be hot for a few minutes when you arrive home, the blinds will help keep the sun out (allowing existing cool to stay that way for as long as possible) and the heat won't be very substantial (preventing your unit from working overtime to cool the room back off).
Don't forget the fan.
People rely on ACs to keep things cool, but having the help of a few supplemental fans doesn't hurt. Using them to circulate the cool air only means you don't need quite as much pumped into the room. They use less energy than your AC unit, so having them around as a backup is a great idea.
When it’s time for your AC to be checked, let the professionals do the job. Call in the top air conditioning services in Australia today.