Simple Home Improvements to Save Energy with your Air Conditioner

Depending on where you live staying cool can be expensive. This article will guide you in cutting your AC costs dramatically. Even though a large portion of this guide is dedicated to saving costs while keeping cool, some points might touch on savings you can make on your heating.

Purchase An Efficient Air Conditioner

If you live in a hot climate it makes sense for you to make a huge investment in purchasing the most efficient AC system available. Ideally, it should have a rating of 14 SEER and higher. This is because you’ll be able to save on energy bills in the long term. By replacing an older model central or window AC unit with an air conditioning unit that’s star rated, you can cut you energy costs by up to 50%. Central AC units are rated using SEER. The higher the SEER rating the higher the model’s efficiency. To know if you’re currently running an efficient model, check to see the SEER rating. Finding out the SEER rating of an older model is quite easy. You have two options:

• Check the data label
• Use the CEE-ARI database to key in the model number

The law requires that all AC units have a minimum SEER rating of 13 for northern states and 14 SEER in southern states. If you’re in doubt, you should know that central air conditioning units manufactured between 1992 and 2005 have a SEER rating of around 10. Even older models might have a SEER rating of between 6 or 7. Cost: ROI: You can expect to save a lot if you upgrade to a newer model. For instance, by replacing an AC with a SEER 7 rating with one that has a SEER rating of 14.5 you can expect to make annual savings of around 50%. Basically, the newer more efficient model will pay back for itself in around 5 years.

Install A Programmable Thermostat

Thankfully, you don’t need to hire an expensive contractor to install your thermostat. You can do it yourself. All you need to do to properly mount and program the thermostat is follow the manufacturer’s instructions which come with every purchase. You can program your thermostat to set your cooling system 4 – 6 degrees warmer when you’re away on vacation or at work. You can also have the thermostat automatically lower the temperature to 78 degrees when you’re home. Such presets will reduce your energy bill by up to 20%. Shop all our thermostats.

Change or Clean Air Conditioner Filters Monthly

Dirty air filters are responsible for slow airflow which in turn causes the cooling system to overwork and consequently wear out faster. In fact, dirty air filters are the leading cause of AC breakdowns and increase your energy costs by about 7% if you happen to live in a hot climate. To avoid this inconvenience we recommend that you remove and change the filter every once a month during summer.

Fix Duct Leaks

If you live in an old home, you are probably using 40% more than you should due to leaks in your ducts. The cool air usually goes to waste if your ducts run through a basement, crawl space or an attic. Though most people tend to hire a professional to do duct work, you can fix the duct leaks yourself. In doing so you’ll need to check your duct work for bad connections, splits and leaks. You’ll need to turn your AC system on so that you can feel escaping air as you do your check. Once the leaks have been sealed, we recommend that you keep your ducts cool by using R-6 fiberglass or higher to insulate them. This is especially the case if they run through a hot attic.

Use Window Shades To Block Out The Sun

About 30% of heat in your home comes through the windows. There are a number of ways you can block out this heat:

• Insulating curtains
• Tinted window film
• Window shades

Create Shade

Another way to reduce your energy bills is by using shade from trees, vines and trellises. Shading will block direct sunlight from coming in through your windows or roof. This kind of heat makes up for about 50% of your home’s heat. By carefully positioning horizontal trellises and trees on the west and east side, you can save up to 30% of your household’s energy cooling and heating consumption. That would translate to annual savings of anywhere between $100 and $250.

Check Your Air Conditioning System Efficiency

If you’ d like to find out if your system is running efficiently as it should be you’ll need to set up a thermometer to check the temperature. Here’s How It Works: Leave your air conditioning unit running for at least 15 minutes on a day when the outdoor temperature is around 80 degrees F. Ensure you have a clean filter in place first then set the thermometer on the supply register that’s nearest to the cooling equipment. Keep it there for around 5 minutes and note down the temperature. Repeat the same process at the return vent. The air going coming out of the register should be about 14 to 20 degrees cooler than the ingoing air. If you note lower temperatures, it means that your unit is either low on refrigerant or that it has leaks.