How to Improve Air Conditioner Efficiency
Summer may be coming to an end in New Jersey, but it’s never too late to think about your air conditioner efficiency—it can be those last heat waves of the summer that really put your AC up to the test! It’s important after all the hard work your AC has been doing to make sure it’s performing at an optimal level. There are some simple steps you can take to improve your air conditioner efficiency that will not only help decrease your energy bills, but will extend the lifespan of your system, too—so you don’t end up needing an air conditioner replacement before summer’s over!
Plant shade trees – A few large, shady trees planted around the yard can make a big difference in your home’s energy efficiency. Blocking the sun’s warming rays from hitting your windows can make it considerably easier for your air conditioner to regulate the temperature in your home. In New Jersey, some of the best shade trees around are oaks (such as Pin Oak, Willow Oak and Scarlet Oak) and Japanese Pagoda Trees—all deciduous, which means their leaves will drop off in the winter. There’s an added benefit to this too: during the winter when it’s cold, the trees won’t block the sun, letting the heat in and helping out your furnace!
Do some yard work – In order for your air conditioner efficiency to be top notch, you’ll need to take care of your yard. Make sure the area around your condenser (the portion of your AC that sits outside) is clear of fallen leaves, grass clippings, shrubs and other debris. If you have bushes around the unit, make sure to keep them trimmed—your air conditioner needs approximately 12-18 inches of space in order to work properly.
Install a programmable thermostat – This is one the single most effective ways to increase your air conditioner efficiency because it allows you to easily regulate the temperature in your home at various times of the day—without ever having to worry about it! You can set a programmable thermostat to raise the temperature during the day when you’re not home for work or school and lower it again just before you arrive home.
Replace your air filters – One of the most important factors for not only air conditioner efficiency but also the lifespan of your AC is remembering to replace the air filters every one to three months, depending on how often you’re running your air conditioner. Clogged, dirty filters inhibit air flow in your home and make it that much harder for your air conditioner to regulate the temperature, and it can even cause the AC to freeze or break down.
Turn up the temperature – Did you know for every degree you turn up on your thermostat, you can reduce your cooling costs by 3 percent? Of course, we don’t want you to be sweating it out at 90 degrees, but if you can keep your home between 72 and 75 degrees, your savings could be substantial!
Check for gaps or leaks in your ductwork – According to the EPA, the typical house loses 20 percent of the air moving through its ductwork because of gaps or leaks! The easiest way to locate these kinds of problems is by having an HVAC professional inspect your ductwork—they’ll know what to look for and how to fix it as easily and effectively as possible. Taking care of the gaps and leaks in your ductwork can have a huge impact on your air conditioner efficiency.
Schedule air conditioning maintenance – Having routine maintenance done on your air conditioner will help improve the overall performance because an AC specialist can locate and fix any minor issues before they become major problems.
If you run into any problems while improving your air conditioner efficiency, contact Arctic Air Conditioning right away! We can take care of all of your air conditioning services in Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean County, New Jersey.
