In many households, heating and cooling bills represent the largest part of the total utility expenses – according to statistical data, energy-related expenses can make up more than 50% of the money spent by households on living in the home.
Households need energy not only for heating, but for cooling the home as well and the appliance responsible for maintaining temperatures comfortably cool in summer is the air conditioner. Brand-new, modern air conditioning units are manufactured with energy-efficiency in mind, with technologies that can deliver the same performance while using much less energy than older units, so the best solution for reducing cooling-related costs in a household is to have Denver air conditioning contractors replace the old, inefficient appliance with a new one. However, buying a new air conditioner is a substantial investment that not all households are ready to make, so here are a few tips about how to improve the efficiency of your appliances, whether old or new.
Take Proper Care of Your Pipes
Blocked or leaky pipes will significantly reduce the efficiency of your air conditioner, so getting the pipes checked, insulated and replaced, if necessary, is essential for improving the performance of your AC. Clogged or damaged drain lines can also hinder cooling performance, so make sure your drains are healthy and clog-free as well.
Adding insulation to your AC unit’s pipes is also an excellent way to make work easier for your air conditioner – insulated pipes don’t waste energy, so your AC unit will not need extra electricity for delivering the desired performance.
Use Additional Cooling Methods
There are various ways that you can use to help your air conditioner:
- Keep the curtains and the blinds on your windows closed when the sun is up high and open them only for the night, when outdoor temperatures go down a bit;
- Try to avoid using heat-producing appliances, such as powerful lamps, the stove in the kitchen or your oven – they will add even more heat, forcing the air conditioner to work even harder and to consume even more energy for maintaining the temperature in the home at the desired level;
Use a Programmable Thermostat and Set It to the Right Temperature
These great, modern devices can significantly improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling appliances alike. They allow you to set the time when your heating and cooling units should start working to ensure the right temperature and you can also set the desired temperature levels for each of the rooms controlled by the thermostat.
Setting the thermostat to start and to stop at the right temperature is also a great way to improve the efficiency of your air conditioner. Try to adjust temperatures a few degrees higher than you normally would in summer – when you come in from the heat outside, you will not notice the difference, what’s more, coming home to an environment where the temperature is not very radically different from the temperature outdoors is good not only for your air conditioner, but for your health as well.