We do our best to support the environment and the earth by installing energy-efficient HVAC systems.
Even so, in hot, humid, Orlando, FL, where air conditioners run almost constantly, they can account for up to 27% of your home energy usage, which isn’t ideal for the environment or your wallet.
Luckily, there are a few easy and cheap ways to make your air conditioner more efficient and budget-friendly.
How to Make Your A/C More Efficient
If you need some guidance for making your HVAC system as energy efficient as possible, feel free to give us a call for a maintenance check-up and recommendations.
1. Change the air filter.
Air filters catch dust, pollen, and other pollutants that are in the air so they don’t pass through the air conditioning system and blow into your home. As the filters fill up, they can eventually block airflow and make your air conditioning unit run on overdrive.
It’s recommended to change your air filter every couple of months. But in Orlando where air conditioning units often run all day every day, air filters can get clogged up even faster than that.
Make it a habit to check your air filter every month or so to assess whether or not it needs to be changed.
2. Remove debris from the outdoor condenser.
The air conditioning condenser is the outdoor portion of your HVAC system. The condenser disperses the heat that’s removed from your home.
Because it’s outside, the condenser is prone to becoming full of debris that can cause the whole HVAC system to have to work harder to cool your home. Cleaning leaves, dirt, lint, and other debris away from the condenser can keep heat from getting trapped.
3. Clean your air vents.
The air that cools your home flows through the air vents. If they’re clogged with debris or even blocked by furniture your system won’t have the opportunity to cool as it should. This forces it to run even harder to maintain the temperature it’s set at.
4. Use a programmable thermostat.
If your family is on a schedule that doesn’t involve someone being home all day, setting the air conditioner at a higher temperature during the day will keep the HVAC system from running at full force when no one is home.
In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting can save you as much as 10% a year!
Of course, we know that Orlando gets super hot during the day, and no one wants to come home after a hard day at work to a hot home. Installing a programmable thermostat will allow you to set a time to start cooling the house so that by the time you get home it’s at the perfect temperature.
5. Keep heat-producing appliances away from your thermostat.
The thermostat is in charge of reading the temperature in your home and telling the system when to turn on and off to reach the desired temperature.
If the area around your thermostat is hotter than the actual temperature in your home because of its placement next to a dryer, lamp, or in direct sunlight, your system is more likely to keep running when it doesn’t necessarily have to.
6. Invest in thermal curtains.
If your house gets a lot of direct sunlight during the day, your air conditioner is going to have to work harder to cool it down. Thermal curtains will help trap some hot air outside of the home so that your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard.
7. Schedule regular maintenance inspections.
HVAC systems have a lot of moving parts, and while there are certainly ways to maintain them yourself, it’s always helpful to have a professional eye looks things over to make sure everything is running properly.
In Orlando, FL, where air conditioning units run more often than not, it’s recommended to get your air conditioning unit serviced at least twice a year.
You can schedule a maintenance check with Aloha Air or call us to learn more about our annual maintenance program.