Summer heat is no fun. It can make your home unbearably hot and uncomfortable, leading you to spend hundreds of dollars on your air conditioning bills.
Similarly, if you live in a hot climate, this could be a problem all year round, leading you into a difficult financial situation and leaving you questioning how to cut back on the bills.
But, even if it is hard, there are many ways in which you can be more sustainable with your air conditioner use. Here is how to use yours economically and cut down on those energy bills.
1. Set The Right Temperature
If you want to save energy and money on your air conditioner usage, the best place to start is with the thermostat. You should set it at a temperature between 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit. This will keep you comfortable without wasting energy.
One common mistake people make is keeping their homes too cold or hot throughout the day. If you set your thermostat too low, then it will run more often and for longer periods of time than necessary, causing it to use even more energy than what is needed. On the other hand, if you set it too high— above 80 degrees— more running means more electricity consumed per hour, hence higher bills. So, if possible, try not to go too far in either direction and find a happy medium that works for your home.
2. Don't Run Appliances Like Ovens Or Dryers
When you are using your air conditioner, do not use any other appliances in the home that require heat. When the air conditioner is running, the compressor uses a lot of energy to cool down the room.
If you turn on your oven or dryer, it will burn more fuel and increase your electric bill by needlessly heating up the space around it. Instead of using these appliances when you are running your air conditioner, use them during the night when the sun is not as strong and you will be spending most of your time in your bedroom away from these heat-inducing culprits.
3. Buy An Energy-efficient Unit
One aspect which you cannot control is how efficiently your unit has been built. Choose a unit that is Energy Star certified. Look for the Energy Guide label on the unit, which will tell you how much energy it uses. Look for one which has lower usage as the lower the usage, the better for your wallet.
Check the SEER rating of your current unit to see how efficient it is and compare that number with a new model’s SEER rating. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient and cost-effective it will be.
We hope this guide has given you a better understanding of how to use your air conditioner economically.
If you have any questions, please get in contact with our friendly team at Allchin Air Conditioning, who can provide you with the best quality products to cool your home on the Sunshine Coast.
