In Summer your air conditioning system works it’s hardest to keep you cool inside. If your system isn’t running at its best you may find your electricity bills increase and the system doesn’t work properly. Here are ways to lower electricity bills, save energy, increase comfort and maximize effectiveness when your air conditioning system needs the most help to keep you cool in the heat of Summer.
1. Call an Air Conditioning Expert
Every air conditioning system should be serviced annually which includes –
- Cleaning the RA Filter
- Inspect and clean condenser coils if required.
- Check zone system operation
- Check operation of heating/cooling
- Check indoor and outdoor fan operation
- Test air on/off reading to confirm correct refrigerant levels
- Check Duct and unit conditions
- Inspect electrical connections for unsafe hot joints
- Quote for any additional repairs
Servicing your air conditioning system in Spring is our recommendation for air conditioning clients in Mandurah and surrounding areas. Services should normally cost between $130 – $180 depending on the system type and access. Make sure that your air conditioning Mandurah expert can handle it all.
2. Check your filters
The most important thing to do with your refrigerated air conditioning system is to check your filters every 1 – 3 months. This is ultra important during the heat of summer when dust and pollutants are airborne. If the filter becomes dirty it could become clogged which means your system will have to work harder to supply the same amount of cool air. We have seen at times air conditioning filters so clogged that the performance of the system is running at only 10% of it’s capacity.
Replacing the filters is one of the easiest and most effective methods of ensuring your refrigerated air conditioning system is running efficiently. It is also critical for ensuring the long term health of your air con system.
3. Keep your A/C in the shade
Refrigerated air conditioning systems have an outdoor unit. These systems can be installed in the sun and will still operate however with proper shading can run more efficiently. Usually we install these systems under eaves or on the south side of the home for our residential clients. Air in a shaded space is cooler in Summer than the surrounding air which will allow your air conditioning unit to have an easier time cooling the air.
4. Don’t let your thermostat take the heat
This is a simple tip but one that most people don’t think about when operating their air conditioning system. Don’t place lamps, TV sets, or other heat-producing appliances near your thermostat. The thermostat is located either on the wall controller, remote or inside the return air filter. The thermostat senses the heat causing the air conditioning system to run harder and longer than necessary. If you have a ducted refrigerated air conditioning system we recommend not allowing any outside heat to be sucked in through the return air grille.
5. Do touch that dial to save some money
Remember that each degree you dial below 23 increases your energy consumption by about 8-10 percent. If your bi-monthly electric bill to run your air conditioning system is about $300, you’ll save $25 per bill with EACH degree you can stand above 23. While it is tempting to run your air conditioning system at 18 degrees during a hot 40 degree day, this is going to make the compressor scream and in-turn give you scary operation costs.
6. Consider a programmed response
Most of our air conditioning systems have timers and programs which will allow the client to set the unit to come on at specific times at a specific temperature. Ideally if you have a decent solar power system installed (which we also specialise in) and you work 9-5 we recommend setting the air con system to come on at around 2:30pm to get your house cool before you get home. This way the first hour of running the system which is often the most ink-efficient will be offset by your free solar power electricity.
7. Is it time to replace your old air con system?
You may find your old air conditioner is not working like it used to. Consider replacing your air conditioning system with a new R32 inverter energy-efficient model. Pricing on new systems are highly competitive and because they use less energy, you save in the long run, too.
When replacing your A/C, make sure you get a correctly sized unit. If you install an air conditioning system that has too much capacity, it will cycle on and off — reducing the efficiency of the system. In-turn, if you install a system that is too small it will be running at maximum operation capacity more often.
8. Make sure the home is closed up
You want your cold air to stay inside and hot air to stay out of the house (or room) you are cooling. Some basic steps can prevent air loss when you need cool air the most include simply making sure all the doors and windows are closed, Seal air leaks with caulking and weather-stripping.
9. Look out for debris
With refrigerated air conditioning systems, keep plants, shrubs, and other landscaping about 1 meter away from your outdoor unit to ensure adequate airflow. If the outdoor unit has no room to circulate air properly it will work harder to cool the gases and liquid which will cost you more to run your air con system.
10. Feel the breeze from your fans
If your home has ceiling fans, switch your ceiling fan to run counter-clockwise in the summer. This way they will push the cool air down by pulling the hot air up. You can run a ceiling fan half the day for about $3 a month which is a fraction of the cost of air conditioning if you don’t have solar panels to offset the running costs.
11. Install window film to save energy
A great home improvement idea is to install home window tint to the insides of your windows. This is particularly important on the North and West facing windows as they tend to cop the heat of the day. Not only can it help keep your house cooler in the summer, but also warmer in the winter.
If you are interested in getting air conditioning installed in Mandurah and surrounding areas contact iBreeze for a competitive quote and obligation free honest advice!
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