Last Updated on January 31, 2025 by teamobn
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts that air conditioning (A/C) energy consumption will grow faster than any other use in a building by 2050.
This could be due to deteriorating weather conditions or users’ failure to understand how to maximize the efficiency of their HVAC units. The latter option is more often the leading reason behind the inefficient use of an A/C system.
How to Get the Most Out of Your AC System: 6 Key Tips
If you’re tired of paying high energy bills and are unsure what to do to keep your HVAC’s energy consumption rate low, we’ve got you covered. Below are six practical tips you can borrow to maximize your system’s efficiency and enjoy optimal value for your money.
Clean and Unblock Your Vents
The vents on your home’s walls, ceilings, and floors are crucial for supplying warm and cold air to the designated rooms. If they get blocked or dirty, your HVAC system will strain to keep the air flowing, using much more energy than it should. To avoid this, you must always maintain your vents in pristine conditions for optimal functioning.
You can walk around your home and inspect the vents to ensure nothing is blocking the air passageway. Signs of pet hair, dirt, debris, and other foreign materials can be a cue to clean the vents by vacuuming or removing the individual materials by hand if they are large enough.
Ensure blinds, toys, rugs, and furniture are kept away from vent openings to achieve maximum airflow into your house.
Clean the Outdoor Condenser Unit
Cleaning the outdoor condenser unit is essential for keeping your A/C unit in optimal operating shape. However, this process isn’t always one you would DIY if you’re not well-versed in the right procedures.
You need to understand how to handle the various parts of the condenser, including the compressor, condenser fan, and condenser coil. Here are some of the most effective steps to follow when cleaning an outdoor condenser unit:
- Deactivate power: First, ensure you’re not washing a condenser unit that’s still connected to power to avoid electric shock.
- Remove excess dirt from condenser fins: Use a vacuum cleaner to remove excess dirt, leaves, grime, and grass from the condenser’s fins and readjust them after cleaning to rotate optimally.
- Clean the interior of the condenser: Using a screwdriver, remove the grille covering the air conditioner condenser and carefully remove the fan, ensuring you don’t break the electric wires. Once the fan is safely out of the way, clean the interior of the condenser using a moist paper towel, ensuring dirt, dead insects, grass, and other debris are completely removed.
- Do some final touches: Before reassembling the condenser unit, inspect the fan motor to confirm whether it has lubrication ports. Once you find the ports, add a couple of drops of lubrication oil to each port to improve its performance.
Cleaning the condenser unit ensures it operates optimally, which means your unit won’t strain to release the excess heat energy absorbed by its refrigerant.
Fix Leaks Around Your Windows, Doors, or in Your Attic
Air leaks can cause your HVAC unit to overwork, leading to higher energy bills, especially in colder months. Any leak should be fixed during air conditioning installation to avoid suffering the high ventilation and air conditioning costs spread over time.
Even if these leaks were fixed during installation, you need to constantly inspect your attic, windows, and doors to ensure they’re perfectly sealed to keep needed air inside. Fixing leaks around doors and windows might mean installing newer, better options. You can also use caulk around window and door frames to seal gaps.
Also, ensure your curtains and blinds are closed before you leave home for maximum cover. As for the attics, you can schedule a professional inspection to ensure they’re perfectly sealed all seasons.
Keep Heat-Producing Appliances Away From Your Thermostat
How and where you install your thermostat determines the efficiency of your HVAC unit. If you install your thermostat near a hot environment, like a lamp, heater, or the sun, it may not effectively regulate your home’s temperature.
You’re likely not to suffer this problem if an experienced HVAC technician installs your unit, as they know how to avoid hot areas when installing a thermostat. However, if you’re using an older unit installed in the wrong spot, you must reinstall it at the right position to minimize interference with the thermostat’s performance.
A thermostat next to a hot environment tends to cool the air rather than warm it, thinking the entire house or space is experiencing the same temperature configuration. In the long run, you’ll spend more on cooling costs because your unit has to work harder. You may also have to replace your A/C system faster than its intended lifespan due to increased wear and tear.
Replace Your AC System Filter
After a long time of efficient work, your A/C air filter can gather an unsurmountable amount of dust that can hinder its optimal functioning. Dirty filters will impact air quality in your home and slow the airflow. This means your air conditioner will have difficulty pushing cold, clean air throughout your home, leading to more energy consumption.
You can improve your system’s performance by replacing the worn-out, clogged, dirty air filters with new ones. Check the air filter every month, or anytime you notice an increase in your energy bill. Ignoring an air filter problem can lead to expensive repairs that might force you to go days without the services of your unit.
Limit Using Your Oven or Hair Dryer on a Hot Day
Hair dryers and ovens generate heat that can easily circulate and affect the temperature of a well-insulated house, especially when turned on for a long time. When this happens, your HVAC unit will work harder to cool the air in your rooms, given that it’s already hot outside. To avoid all these, minimize using heat-generating appliances when it’s already hot outside.
The Takeaway
Maximizing the efficiency of your A/C unit can be challenging, especially if you’re trying to do everything alone. Experienced HVAC technicians can help you with complete inspections through which they can identify hidden problems early for prompt action. Whether you’re looking to replace your unit or just enhance the performance of an existing one, the above tips can help you achieve your desired success.
