Professional AC tune-up service optimizes operating conditions and alleviates operational stress. During these appointments, HVAC technicians lubricate moving parts, tighten loose components, calibrate thermostats, and more. With a pre-season air conditioner tune-up, your cooling system will use less energy and cost less to run. Reduce your summertime cooling costs even more with these easy energy-efficiency tips.
Stay on Top of Air Filter Changes
Your AC cools your home by drawing warm air in and moving it over its refrigerant-filled coil. As indoor air enters your AC, it passes through your air filter. Heavy buildups of filter debris inhibit airflow. Air conditioners work harder, indoor air quality (IAQ) declines, and humidity rises. If left unchecked, dirty air filters can also lead to noticeable increases in energy bills.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), you can boost the efficiency of your AC by as much as 15% by changing its air filter. Inspect this component monthly, and swap it out every 30 to 90 days as needed.
Seal and Insulate Your Air Ducts
As per the DOE, your HVAC air ducts could lose as much as 40% of the cooling energy your air conditioner produces. You can limit these energy losses by sealing and insulating your ductwork. This will keep more of your cool, conditioned air trapped inside for distribution. By keeping unfiltered air out, duct sealing and insulation can also protect your IAQ.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
Avoid the high costs of unwanted thermostat setting changes by upgrading to a smart thermostat. These devices allow homeowners to track and adjust temperatures remotely. This way, if residents crank your thermostat way down while you’re away, you can restore a more modest setting from your location. You can also establish authorized thermostat users to prevent unwanted adjustments in the future.
Smart thermostats provide other helpful efficiency benefits. They offer energy consumption tracking, detailed energy reports, maintenance reminders, and performance alerts.
Keep Your AC Running
Your AC will use more energy to cool an overly hot home than it will to maintain a moderate temperature all the time. You can use a programmable, smart, or Wi-Fi thermostat to automatically revert to your “away” temperature setting when leaving. These devices can raise your thermostat’s setting when you leave or go to bed, and lower it when you arrive or wake up. According to the DOE, each degree of temperature change can reduce your cooling-related energy use by 1% to 3%.
Don’t Neglect Minor AC Repairs
Is your air conditioner overly noisy? Does it emit foul smells when running? Don’t neglect even the most minor-seeming AC repair. Doing so allows small problems to escalate. It can also drive up your energy bill.
Keep Your Air Vents Open
Don’t close air vents to redirect unwanted conditioned air. Vent closures create operational stress for ACs by increasing static pressure in your ducts. Make sure that all vents throughout your home are at least partially open at all times.
AC maintenance primes air conditioners for efficient performance. The tips above will further reduce your cooling-related energy use. To schedule expert AC repair or maintenance services in Dallas, TX, contact Dallas Plumbing & Air Conditioning.
