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When the summer temperatures start climbing, and the humidity becomes unbearable, air conditioning is a life saver. Here are ten ways that you can keep cool this summer without racking up the energy bill and breaking the bank.
1. Plan For When You’re Not Home
A great way to reduce air conditioner energy consumption is to invest in a programmable thermostat. These thermostats allow you to program your air conditioner to shut off while you’re away and kick back in right before you come home.
If you can’t afford to invest in a programmable thermostat right now, make sure you turn off your air conditioner before leaving the house.
You should also close all of your window coverings to help keep the sun out and keep your house cooler for longer. This way, it won’t be as hot when you return home, and your air conditioning unit won’t have to work as hard to cool the house back down.
2. Invest in Some Fans
An energy saving air conditioner is a great way to keep cool during the hot summers, but having a few fans can help beat the heat while saving energy.
Fans can increase air circulation, which means it can feel even cooler without your air conditioner having to work so hard. Plus, ceiling fans can help reduce the tendency for heat to rise and cool air to sink down near your feet.
3. Turn Your Air Conditioning Down at Night
The most efficient air conditioners offer a sleep mode which will allow you to set a timer to lower the output automatically.
Allowing the unit to run less while you’re sleeping will help save energy. Plus, since the nights are cooler and you’ll be asleep anyway, you won’t notice the gradual increase in heat.
4. Make a Path for the Air
It’s important to make sure the area in front of your air conditioner is clear of furniture and obstacles. If the vents are blocked by a chair or sofa, it will take much longer to cool your home.
If you cannot easily rearrange your furniture to free up space in front of the vents, then you can buy plastic pieces that will help force air in the right direction. However, this still isn’t as efficient as moving your furniture out of the way.
5. Opt for a Smaller Unit
If it’s important to cool your entire house, the best way is to invest in a central air unit. But, you should consider if there are large areas of your home that don’t need to be cooled, such as a vacant guest room, storage, an unused office.
If this is the case, you may want to select a smaller window or portable air conditioner. It will use up to 50% less energy since it only needs to cool a much smaller space.
6. Decrease Other Sources of Heat Output
As well as closing curtains during the day, you should try to keep as many lights off as you can. Also, reduce other sources of heat around your house.
Baking in the oven, cooking on the stove, or using the dryer all will make your home warmer. The less heat that’s being produced, the less energy your air conditioner needs to cool the place down.
7. Insulate Your Home
Any gaps in your house will allow the outside heat to seep in, and your cool air to leak out. If you have central air conditioning, make sure that you properly insulate anywhere your ducts are.
This is especially important in areas where air conditioning isn’t used, such as the attic. Also, make sure there are no gaps around your windows or doors.
8. Close Off the Basement
If you have a basement, you know that it always seems to be the coolest place in the house.
You can help change this, and force the cool air to stay on the first floor by closing off any vents that go into the basement. Sealing up any gaps or cracks around the basement door can help as well.
9. Maintain Your Air Conditioning Unit
Air conditioners will be the most efficient when they’re properly maintained. As they age, these units won’t work as well, especially if you neglect basic upkeep, such as cleaning or replacing the air filters.
Annual maintenance and service will increase efficiency and lengthen the life of your unit.
10. Set Your Unit to 25 Degrees
The optimum temperature for your air conditioning unit to be set at is 25 degrees Celsius.
While this may seem warm, your air conditioner removes a lot of humidity from the air, making it feel even cooler than outside. Setting your unit to 25 degrees will allow your air conditioner to run steadily, without having to work too hard.
Want to find out more about how you can save energy and still enjoy air conditioning this summer? Call Climacool Air Conditioning on 1300 379 334 and speak to one of our air conditioning service professionals today.