As the summer heat settles in, we all seek solace in the cool comfort of our homes. However, running the air conditioner throughout the day can take a toll on our energy bills and the environment. Fortunately, there are various practical and cost-effective ways to maximize air conditioning efficiency, ensuring optimal cooling while minimizing energy consumption.
If you want to lower your power bills this summer but maintain a comfortable home, here are 10 tips from Garden City Plumbing and Heating to help your Missoula residential air conditioning system run more efficiently.
1. Clear the Area Around AC Vents and Return Air Ducts
Most Air Conditioning Professionals recommend at least about a foot of space in all directions around your AC vents. This is important whether your vents are recessed in the floor, wall, or ceiling and includes items like curtains and furniture. If your return air vents are blocked, the lack of airflow could cause damage to your AC unit. If your supply vents are covered, it will inhibit your unit’s ability to maintain your desired temperature in your home.
2. Seal Air Leaks in Your Missoula Home to Maximize Air Conditioning Efficiency
If you have spots where air can flow freely between the inside and outdoors, they can really affect your AC’s ability to do its job. Odds are, you do not just have one small air leak but a significant amount of air leaking. It is important to close any leaks. Patching even a small hole between your unconditioned attic and your main living area can make a noticeable impact on your monthly power bill.
3. Repair or Upgrade the Insulation on your Missoula Residential Air Conditioning System
Insulation is one of the unsung heroes when it comes to the comfort of your home. Having ineffective or aging insulation can impact your home’s air conditioning system this summer. By repairing or replacing pieces of insulation, you can make a noticeable dent in the efficiency of your Missoula Residence’s AC system!
4. Retrofit a New Unit to Your Missoula Residence’s AC System
Technology has progressed by leaps and bounds in regard to efficiency. If you have an older AC system, you may consider retrofitting a new unit to your system for a more efficient home. If you choose a heat pump, you can get the latest tech in both cooling and heating systems. Recent models of heat pumps are among the most efficient temperature regulators available!
5. Reduce or Eliminate Sources of Excess Heat to Maximize AC Efficiency
Every source of heat in your home is a direct nuisance to your air conditioning. Some of these sources are simply part of your home, and the AC just has to deal with it. This can include your refrigerator, the steam from hot showers, and even heat from the TV. Other heat sources can be reduced or moved outside to give the AC a chance to do its job more efficiently. For example, you can opt to grill outside instead of using the oven on hot days or let hair air dry instead of using a hot air blow dryer. You can purchase insulated curtains to keep the sun’s heat from penetrating into your home. Turning off the electronics like a TV, computer, or gaming system when not in use, especially overnight, will eliminate additional heat sources.
6. Replace Dirty Filters on Your Missoula Residential Air Conditioning
There are so many reasons to replace dirty filters. One important reason is to maximize air conditioning efficiency. The harder your AC unit has to work to pull air in, the more energy it will use to get the job done. By replacing dirty filters, air can flow into the unit to be cooled and circulated back to your living space with less effort. This one is the biggest no-brainer.
7. Look For Air Flow Issues to Maximize Air Conditioning Efficiency
Homes often have that one room that stays cooler than the rest. Sometimes this is just the nature of the beast. Sometimes, this is because something is impeding the airflow to that room. Take a careful look around and make sure that nothing is causing air flow issues in your AC system. This could even include a stuffed animal that was shoved into one of the vents in your home. Not only is this limiting the comfort of your home, but it could be a fire hazard.
8. Increase the Temperature on the Thermostat by a Few Degrees
This suggestion might be debatable. While you may be most comfortable at 70 degrees F, you may still be quite comfortable at 72 degrees F. By deciding to keep your living space at a slightly warmer temperature, you could make a big dent in your power bills. This could be a great option for those willing to adjust.
9. Use a Programmable Thermostat in Your Missoula Home
With a programmable thermostat, you can have the temperature turned up while everybody is out of the house to reduce the amount of work the AC is doing unnecessarily. You can set the thermostat to bring the temperature down to a comfortable range within a half hour before everybody is set to arrive home for the day. This can make an enormous difference. And late models have WIFI connectivity so you can check the temperature from anywhere.
10. Clean Around the Outdoor Condenser Unit of Your Missoula Residential Air Conditioning System
Similar to clearing furniture away from your vents indoors to maximize airflow into your AC unit, clearing debris like leaves away from the outdoor unit can increase airflow. Enabling your AC unit to perform unencumbered will help it run more efficiently.
Help Your Missoula Home be More Efficient With Garden City Plumbing and Heating
Whether you want to set up a zone system in your ductwork, install a programmable thermostat, or retrofit a heat pump into your home, the pros at Garden City have your back! Give us a call at (406)728-5550 or contact us online to set up an appointment today!