Efficiency Air Condintioning Replacement Contractors

Improving your Air Conditioning Efficiency

The compressor units of most air conditioners have an average lifetime of only 10 to 12 years. By carefully following proper maintenance procedures, a quality model may hold up twenty years, but don’t expect the kind of lifetime you get with boilers and furnaces.

Reduce Excessive Use

• Use air conditioning only when ventilation is inadequate.

Set the temperature up when leaving the house.

Always keep all doors and windows closed when operating an air conditioner.

Don’t cool unoccupied rooms (but don’t shut off too many registers either, or it will put pressure on the system).

Minimize indoor humidity by running hot-water appliances in the evening and by showering with the exhaust fan on.

If your room air conditioner has an outside air option, use it sparingly.

Increase Your Comfort Range by Using Fans.

With a ceiling fan, you will probably be comfortable with the thermostat set at about 78°F. Each degree you are able to raise the thermostat, you will save 3–5% on air conditioning costs.

Clean the air filters on room air conditioners monthly.

The filter in a central air conditioner should never be allowed to get dirty enough to impede air flow, as this could cause damage to the unit. The condenser should be cleaned by a professional every other year, or even yearly in dusty locations. Filters in Room AC units can simply be removed (typically located behind the air inlet grill) and rinsed to remove trapped dust. Many modern units have an indicator alerting you to when the filter needs to be cleaned. Otherwise, it is a good idea to check the filter every couple of months during the summer.

Hire a professional technician to inspect, clean, and tune your system every 2-3 years.

During service of your unit, its refrigerant may need recharging. This correction can improve system efficiency by 20%.

The technician should measure airflow over the indoor coil. Correcting airflow rates can improve efficiency another 5–10%.

Regardless of how well tuned it is, the system will not operate efficiently if the duct system is in poor condition. Proper sealing and insulation can reduce cooling energy use by 10–15%.