As the weather warms up, your air conditioner is your ‘go-to friend’ during summer. Have you ever opened your electric bill and been surprised at how high the amount can be? Although it is expected that energy bills will increase in summer, there is a possibility that energy bills are inflated much higher than they should be due to the poor performance of the AC system.
Shall we have a peek at some of the more typical reasons your AC is jacking up your energy bills and what you can do to fix it?
- Filthy Filters Clog Airflow, Causing Staff Unit to Struggle
A dirty air filter is one of the most common but least known reasons for high energy bills. This is because when filters are cluttered with dust and waste, the airflow will be blocked. This makes your AC strain to try and move air around the system, and in the process, it consumes huge amounts of energy.
Keeping your filters clean (or even replacing them regularly, which is 1-2 months in a period of high usage) may assist in making your system operate more economically and lessen your energy costs. - Aged or Ineffective System
Air conditioners will not stand the test of time. Chances are that your system that is over 10-15 years old may be much less efficient compared to the recent models. The new systems are delivered with increased SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) and are smart, containing advanced technology that maximises efficiency and minimises power usage.
Replacing with an energy-efficient AC is not cheap at the onset but its savings on the energy bill can be enormous in the long run. - Leaks of Refrigerant
Your AC system is kept alive by refrigerant. When it is leaking, your unit can hardly cool down your house. This tends to increase running times and energy consumption and does not even make for increased comfort.
In case you are experiencing warm air coming from your AC, or it is not cooling efficiently, then a leakage may be a problem caused by a refrigerant. In this instance, the air conditioner repairs have to be done as quickly as possible with a qualified technician. - Poor Thermostat Settings
It is tempting to adjust your thermostat to below satisfactory levels but reducing them can make your air conditioner overwork. Rather than lower the temperature to an extreme level, strive to make it comfortable and efficient at 24-26 degrees Celsius (75-78 Fahrenheit).
In addition, it is possible to use a programmable thermostat and set it when you are not at home. This assists in curbing useless usage and keeps you in control of your energy bill. - Leaky Ducts
It is possible that you have an air conditioner that cannot come to your knowledge but is cooling your attic or crawlspace. Leaky ducts may be causing that cooled air to escape before it can reach your living spaces, so in order to chill your household, your AC will have to go the extra mile.
You can save a lot of energy by sealing and insulating the ducts to improve the performance of your system tremendously. - Absence of Maintenance
An AC unit just like any other machine should be maintained regularly so that it can run properly. Bad parts, clogged coils, or a bad fan motor might cause your system to huff and puff and to consume more energy.
Having your air conditioning professionally serviced at least once a year will keep all pieces of equipment clean, oiled and functioning properly-energy and equipment life saving. - Inappropriate sizing
The size does not always matter. As nice as having an oversized unit would be in cooling your home in a short period, it will run constantly coming on and off wasting resources and decreasing comfort. Conversely, a small unit can run twenty-four hours a day, and you might not cool your place effectively.
The most important thing is to have your house checked by a professional and advised on the appropriate size of an AC, which would effectively cool it and thus make the bills cheaper.
Final Thoughts
Your air conditioner must cool you down, not give you a shock when it is time to make bills to electricity companies. Dirty filters, bad thermostat settings, refrigerant leaks and so on can be controlled to enhance the efficiency and reduce energy cost. This can also be a huge difference under regular maintenance and upgrades.
In case you have an occasional feeling that something goes wrong with your AC system, act immediately, because aircon repairs may put everything straight and leave your energy bills under control.
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