Smart Ways to Save on Your AC

Any air conditioning unit is a power hog. No matter what they say about air conditioners, it will still require more power compared to any other appliances in your home. That is why any idea that can cut the power consumption of your air conditioner should be implemented.Here are some simple ideas that can cut a good amount of power while using your air conditioning unit.

1. Use the thermostat – Instead of using your air conditioner in full blast 24/7, use the thermostat to control the temperature in your home. It is no use to have the air conditioner running when no one is there to use them. For optimum results, increase the temperature by five degrees. In an eight hour period, you should slash at least 10% of your current power consumption for your air conditioning unit. If you are not home for more than eight hours, the savings should be even more. Proper control of temperature in your home is the key to save a good amount of power in air conditioning unit.

. 2. Ensure your air conditioning unit is optimized – That means no unsealed duct, dirty or destroyed filter. Always check your air conditioner for any of these defects so that you can repair them to ensure less energy is used. If you clean the air filters for at least once a month you should be able to prevent 20% increase of power requirement. Your air conditioning unit is just like your car – without any tune up, your car will require more fuel to run. If your unit is not on tip-top shape, you will have to  spend 20% more power to run your air conditioning unit.

. 3. Control the heat source in your home – Any heat source in your home will require more cooling from your air conditioning unit. This translates to more power consumption and an increase in electric bill. During the hottest time of the day, cover your windows from direct sunlight. The heat that comes from the windows should be neutralized as much as possible. Also other heat sources such as toaster and dishwashers should never be used during the hottest time of the day. By controlling the heat source in your home, you will not need as much power as you used to.

. 4. Smart use of your fan – Change the settings of your fan to move counter clockwise. With this setting your fan should be able to push the cool air to the ground. The warm air on the other hand is never pushed upwards but instead scattered which will be overpowered by the cool air. Tweaking your ceiling fan to do this requires an electrician, which could mean an additional expense but the ROI is fast considering you are using your air conditioning unit with less power. The only difficulty that you may have is when you have a large room which require more than one ceiling fan. But think of the ROI as tuning up your ceiling fan to work counter clockwise is worth it.

. 5. Do not let any air out – A well sealed home will cool faster and keep temperature low even if the air conditioning unit is not running. Sealing your home should have been done during construction but that does not mean it is too late. Again it could take some extra cash from your budget but the ROI could be clearly felt as early as the next billing cycle if you have a two bedroom home.

Be smart with your use of air conditioning unit. It is a power hog right from the start so every trick in the book should be used to ensure you are using less power for your air conditioning appliance.