10 Tips To Improve Your AC Unit’s Efficiency

As the temperatures rise, you probably spend more time indoors and less time outside. If you want to save money on your energy bill, it’s important to take steps to make sure that your air conditioner is in good working order. Here are ten tips for making sure that your AC unit performs at its best.

Replace the air filter.

You need to change the air filter on your AC unit at least once every six months.

If you have pets, or if you smoke inside the house, then you should change it sooner than that. This helps keep allergens and other pollutants from clogging up your system, which causes it to work harder than necessary—meaning you end up paying more in energy bills than necessary.

Why You Should Care About Dirty Air Filter?

A dirty air filter can make your AC unit work harder and use more electricity than needed. This increases power consumption and ultimately costs you money on your utility bill!

Changing them regularly will help maintain efficiency levels while also extending their life span by eliminating any extra strain placed upon them by environmental factors like dust particles from vacuuming floors or pollen from nearby trees/lawns (yay for allergies!).

Use a programmable thermostat.

• Programmable thermostats. These handy devices can save you up to $180 a year, according to the Department of Energy. A programmable thermostat can be set to automatically adjust the temperature at different times of day and when no one is home.
• Replace your filter every month during peak cooling season (summer). If you have window air conditioners, place them in an area where they can get plenty of fresh air for proper ventilation—not in a windowless room or closet!
• Clean or replace any filters that are dirty or clogged with dust, dirt and hair. Dirty filters reduce airflow, which increases energy use and shortens the life span of your equipment by forcing it to work harder than necessary.

Install a ceiling fan.

Ceiling fans are an excellent way to cool your home during the summer. They are also great for reducing energy costs, circulating air, making you feel comfortable and relaxed, helping you sleep better and keeping you cool during the summer.

A ceiling fan works by creating a breeze that circulates in a room. When installed properly, it can lower your energy bill by up to 50%. So if you’re looking for ways to save money on cooling costs without sacrificing comfort or quality of life, then investing in a ceiling fan is definitely worth considering.

Schedule an annual AC tune-up.

In addition to being good for your AC unit’s health and longevity, a tune-up can also save you money in the long run by finding problems before they affect your home’s efficiency. A professional will inspect your system and make any repairs or replacements that are needed.

A tune-up typically costs $100-$150 (less if you do it yourself), but is one of the best investments you can make for your air conditioning unit. It will prevent unexpected repair bills down the road and keep your system running at peak efficiency so it runs less often—saving you money on both energy bills and service calls when something goes wrong.

Keep the area around your AC unit free of debris.

Keeping the area around your AC unit free of debris is a simple way to improve its efficiency. Airflow should be unobstructed in order for the right amount of air to flow through the system. Having too much or too little airflow can cause problems, including uneven cooling and damage to your equipment. It’s also important that no obstacles are present when the unit is running, as this could cause malfunctioning parts over time.

Examples of items that should be removed from around your AC unit include:

• Dirt, dust and leaves from trees around the home (these can cover vents).
• Debris from gutters (this can block evaporation coils).

Keep the inside temperature at 78 degrees or higher.

The thermostat can be your AC unit’s best friend, but only if you know how and when to use it. For example, if you have a home with multiple rooms and a central air system, the temperature settings on one room may not be enough to keep your home cool enough. You will have to set separate temperatures for each room in order to keep your whole house comfortable.

If you don’t have a programmable thermostat—a device that automatically adjusts the temperature throughout the course of a day—try setting yours between 68-72 degrees when nobody’s at home and 79-82 when people are around often. That way nobody will feel uncomfortable no matter what their preferences are!

Plant native trees and shrubs around your home.

Native plants are better suited to your local climate and will require less water, fertilizer and pesticide. They also provide food, shelter and nesting areas for birds and other wildlife. With all these benefits, you may be wondering why more people don’t plant natives. One reason is that they can be difficult to find at nurseries because they are often grown by local nurseries rather than national chains or big box stores. Another reason is that native plants can be expensive compared with non-natives sold in large quantities by these retailers.

Nursery owners should consider planting native species in their own yards so customers can take a look at them before making purchases. If you’re not able to use native plants around your home because of cost or availability issues, there are still ways you can help improve the environment near your home:

Use your blinds and curtains wisely.

When you’re not using your windows, keep them closed to help keep the heat out. However, when you’re trying to get some fresh air into your home and cool off after a long day of work or school, open up those blinds and curtains!

As far as seasons are concerned: during the spring and summer months (when temperatures are high), it’s best that you close all of the windows on your home during the day so no hot air gets inside. Open them back up at night when it gets cooler outside. Likewise, during fall and winter (when temperatures drop), close all of your home’s windows during daytime hours; then open them once again at nighttime for extra ventilation in order to prevent mold growth within your AC unit itself.

Tips on lights usage.

• Turn off the lights in the rooms you’re not using.
• Use dimmer switches to control brightness, rather than just turning them on or off all the way.
• Turn off lights when watching TV, reading or working on a computer at night. The more comfortable you are with using an energy-saving bulb in your home, the more likely it is that you’ll leave these lights turned off when not needed.
• Don’t leave lights on in empty rooms (or unoccupied houses), as this uses electricity unnecessarily and can increase cooling costs if it’s hot outside and plenty of heat is escaping through windows around doors for example.
• Don’t keep any lamps burning during sleep time — turn those out too before heading up to bed!

Purchase Energy Star appliances.

Buying energy efficient appliances is a great way to help your AC unit be more efficient. Energy Star appliances use 20% less energy than standard models, which can save you money and improve the longevity of your appliance. You’ll also find that Energy Star appliances tend to be more reliable and have fewer problems, especially in extreme heat or cold conditions.

An energy efficient home is eco-friendly, as well as less expensive to operate and maintain.

One of the greatest benefits of an energy efficient home is that it is more comfortable. A well-insulated building will have fewer drafts, which means you won’t be shivering during the winter months or sweating at night in the summer.

Another advantage to having an energy efficient home is that you’ll save money on your utility bills. This can be accomplished by installing cost-saving features like high efficiency windows and doors, which use less energy to operate than traditional models.

A third benefit of an eco-friendly property is that it’s better for the environment because it reduces pollution levels in your neighborhood, while also helping with climate change issues at a global level (i.e., preventing flooding).

Final Words

We hope you’ve found these tips to be helpful, and that they’ll help you improve the efficiency of your home’s AC unit. Remember, there are many ways to make your home more eco-friendly, and one of them is by using energy-efficient appliances and systems in your home.