Negosentro.com | An air conditioning system in Houston endures tough working during the summer. A quality and durable AC unit will take the heat and dish out the cold. However, there is a price to pay to keep your unit working efficiently through the summer. Your AC might lose efficiency in various ways leading to skyrocketing energy bills. Fortunately, this article is going to give you ways to boost your AC efficiency during the summer.
Tips to boost AC efficiency
Raise the thermostat
There is no worry about turning on the heat in hot weather. However, there is a chance that your thermostat is set at a lower temperature than necessary. This will not give you faster cooling in the hot summer but will only keep the compressor running longer. Consider setting the temperature to about 78 degrees Fahrenheit during daytime and raising it by 8 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
Clean outdoor condenser area
The AC exhausts heat removed indoors from indoors to the condenser cabinet area. Therefore, the cabinet grill should be clean always and without brush to obstruct it. Ensure to clear this area by a foot on all sides of the cabinet. Use a hose to clean dirt and grime in the cabinet. Avoid using a hose with a high-pressure nozzle and spraying water into the grill directly. It might damage the coils.
Call professional maintenance
An essential step to enhance energy efficiency is to call for professional maintenance for your air conditioner in Houston. An expert technician will come to your home to thoroughly inspect your AC and tune it up for the summer. The inspection allows for catching any repair issues enough before they escalate. Afterward, cleaning and making necessary adjustments will keep the air conditioner working at the highest efficiency throughout the summer.
Replace air filter
Air conditioning units have filters for protecting the unit and blower fan from debris and dust that might have sucked in through the air ducts. Filters usually become congested after 1 to 3 months and the airflow might get blocked when the air filter is not replaced. This is likely to force the AC to work harder with a subsequent hike in energy bills. A professional AC technician should replace the filter regularly to ensure that your unit works efficiently.
Clear the drain line
An indoor cooling coil has a drain usually mounted above the furnace in your basement. Before calling a technician, you can flush a cup of chlorine bleach down the AC drain and rinse it using a gallon of water. This can keep the drain clear throughout the summer. Clearing the drain line will prevent the basement from soaking in water in case the drain is blocked.
Insulate exposed duct-work
Ensure to have all ductwork running through an unconditioned space sealed properly. This ensures no leakage of conditioned air. Visible leaks can be covered using special UL-181 rated duct sealing tape. Ensure to call a professional technician to check all duct work to ensure it is good condition. Additionally, ensure to have duct work insulated with insulating material with appropriate thickness.
Limit the use of the dryer and oven
Using the dryer and oven during the hottest periods of the day is not recommended. It limits the dryer from drawing in warm air into your home. Additionally, using an oven adds more warm air into your space. This is likely to make your AC unit work harder with a subsequent hike in energy bills. Limiting the use of the dryer and oven will prevent the presence of more warm air into your space. This will keep your AC unit working more efficiently throughout the summer.
Keep all heat producing items away
Another way to boost the efficiency of your AC this summer is to keep lamps and other appliances that produce heat away from the thermostat. Any heat producing appliances near the thermostat will tell it that your space needs to be cooled more. This might make the AC unit to work much longer and harder than it should be. Keep all these items away from your thermostat to keep your AC unit working efficiently.
Close all curtains and blinds
Always ensure to keep all curtains and blinds closed during the heat of the day. This will keep some heat from heating your home interior. Presence of additional heat from the sun is likely to make your unit work harder and much longer. Closing the curtains and blinds will limit more heat from entering into your interior to keep the AC working efficiently.
Bottom line
Houston homeowners and business owners alike need an air conditioning unit that works efficiently to ensure a good environment throughout the summer. Making your AC ready for summer requires appropriate maintenance, cleaning near the condenser area, and limiting the use of heat producing appliances. Such ideas backed by professional assistance will keep your unit working well.
