Staying cool through a long, hot Houston summer is no easy task, but with a reliable and effective air conditioner, it shouldn’t be too difficult to keep your home comfortable. And did you know there’s even more you can do to ensure this is the case? You can have a functional air conditioner, and take steps to see that it works even more efficiently.
Read on as we uncover some tips on just how to boost energy efficiency for your air conditioner.
Schedule AC Maintenance!
If you haven’t done so already, there is no time like the present to schedule your next air conditioning maintenance session. Professional maintenance allows our technicians to comprehensively inspect, clean, and adjust the components that need it, which helps your system work as effectively and efficiently as possible, for as long as possible.
Without these annual tune-ups for your central air conditioner, you could expect to lose 5% of the original SEER rating (that is, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) each year. But with maintenance, your system may be able to retain up to 95% of that original rating.
Keep the Windows and Blinds to South-Facing Windows Closed
If your windows are open, or even your blinds, it will allow in ambient heat, which is going to signal your air conditioner to turn on a lot earlier in the day than it would otherwise. Your air conditioner consumes the most energy cycling on, so ideally you want to allow it to not cycle on quite so early in the day, as you’re well aware of how long it takes the temperatures to drop in the evening!
Ensure Proper Insulation
Do you know if your home has enough insulation? People often think of insulation as a barrier in cold weather–disallowing heat from escaping your home or cold air from getting in. This is partly correct! Insulation does prevent heat transfer, but this works just as well in the summertime as it does in the winter, so long as you have adequate insulation.
Proper insulation allows the heat from outside to stay outside and the cool air from your air conditioner to stay inside for as long as possible.
Keep the Thermostat at a Reasonable Setting
It can be pretty tempting to see just how low your thermostat can go on a hot day, but we actually advise against this. Your air conditioner is only built to cool the space that it’s installed in down to about 20°F below whatever the temperature is outside.
So if you’re setting your thermostat down to 71°F on a 96°F day, then your air conditioner is just going to keep running and running, unable to actually meet that desired temperature. In the end, this is pretty inefficient.
Use Your Ceiling Fans
Your ceiling fans cannot lower the temperature of the rooms they’re in all on their own. But they can help better distribute the air coming from your air conditioner. As they do this, it allows you to feel cooler, so you can potentially raise the temperature setting on your thermostat, thereby allowing it to shut off earlier than it might have otherwise.
To get expert service for your central AC in Houston, TX, contact Cool Care Heating and Air Conditioning, where you get “The Best Care for Your Air!”