How to Use Your Air Conditioning More Efficiently

As one of the biggest users of electricity in your home, it’s vital that you do all you can to help your air conditioner run as efficiently as possible. Though those hot summer days will still require your air conditioner to run fairly frequently, it’s possible to reduce your usage on most other days, resulting in less wear and tear on your system and a much lower utility bill for you. Here are a few tips to help you use your air conditioning more efficiently.

Keep Out the Sun

Though a steady stream of sunshine can be a welcome sight on cold winter days, during the summer all it does is cause your air conditioner to work harder as the surfaces in your home absorb the heat from the sun. Therefore, it’s important to keep the sun out of your home as much as possible. The best way to do this is through the use of black-out curtains on all your windows, which will trap sun and heat at the windows, helping to keep your home much cooler without any extra effort on the part of your air conditioner.

Proper Repairs

Another common reason for inefficiency in your air conditioner is an issue with some component of the air conditioner. If you notice your system working harder than normal, it’s important to have a technician come to your home to determine if air conditioning system repair is required. Problems could range from a small refrigerant leak all the way to a system that’s in need of replacement. In any event, though, it’s important to have any problems fixed quickly to ensure you aren’t wasting money on cooling your home.

Don’t Add to the Heat

Your air conditioner works hard to keep your home cool. The last thing you want to do, then, is to add heat back into your home through the use of various appliances. That’s why, during the warm months, it’s important to use your oven as little as possible, as this can quickly heat a room to the point that your air conditioner kicks on prematurely. Additionally, it’s a good idea to try and do heat-producing tasks, such as washing dishes and drying clothes in the evening after the sun has had a chance to go down and isn’t adding to the heat load of your home.

Understand Your A/C

A common misconception about air conditioners is that it’s best to lower the temperature on the thermostat significantly in order to cool your home more quickly. However, this is just about one of the most inefficient actions you can take. Your air conditioner will cool your home at the same rate, no matter what temperature your thermostat is set to. What’s more, if you set your thermostat too low, your air conditioner will work longer to achieve that temperature, resulting in wasted energy and potential freeze-ups of your system.

On Second Thought

One reason that air conditioners are often overused is that people fail to ask themselves if they are truly uncomfortable before adjusting their thermostat. In the same way that asking yourself “am I truly hungry?” can help you eat less, asking “am I truly uncomfortable?” can help you pause before adjusting your thermostat, resulting in lower air conditioner usage. By taking some time to be mindful of your comfort level, you may find that you’re able to use your air conditioner even less than you thought possible.