How to Save Money on Home Air Conditioning

Whether you have central air or a window unit, when it comes to air conditioning it pays to be efficient. An air conditioner that is properly maintained will not only cool your home faster, but will also cost less money. With some simple upkeep your air conditioner can run at it's optimal best without wasting energy. Air conditioning can waste lots of electricity if you are not careful. Here are some tips on maintaining your home air conditioning systems.

Central Air
If you own a home that has central air there are several things you can do to make sure your system is operating at its best. For the most part, central air conditioning units are easy to use and maintain. But without routine maintenance your central air system will waste energy and over time may stop working completely. The best thing you can do for your central air system is to hire a professional at least once during the season for regular maintenance and inspection. When hiring air conditioning maintenance, use a reliable and trusted company. Often makers of central air units have their own technicians who will perform routine maintenance at your home. If this type of service is not available to you ask neighbors, family, and friends who they have used in the past. By asking around, not only will you find out what company to use, but you will find out which ones to avoid for sure. Generally speaking, word of bad service travels much faster and farther than that of good service.

When hiring an air conditioner technician there are several major things you need to make sure they do. First, an inspection should be completed on the central air unit in its entirety. This means refrigerant levels should be checked and recharged when necessary and the compressor should be checked for leaks. Moving parts should be cleaned free of dirt and dust, and then lubricated to ensure the system will operate properly. Any damaged parts should be replaced whenever possible or repaired when parts are not available.

Inspection of your central air unit should also include an in home look around. The technician should check your ducts and vents for leaks, and also replace or clean dirty air filters. Leaks should be sealed before operating the central air system and checked again once they are repaired. Ducts located in basements, on outside walls, and in attics should be insulated properly to prevent hot air from warming up the system. The outdoor unit should also be free of dirt, sticks, leaves, or any other debris that may obstruct proper operation. Ideally, the outdoor unit should be located in an area free from direct sun and away from tall grasses, bushes, and deciduous trees. Even coniferous trees like pines shed some debris which can make your system work harder, wasting precious energy.

Once you have had the seasonal maintenance done, there are several things you can do yourself. Checking your thermostat should be the first thing. You want to make sure the thermostat is actually reading the right temperature. If your thermostat is not working properly your central air system may just continually run and never shut off. This is a common problem in many homes, especially those with older air conditioning and thermostat units. Replace thermostats whenever necessary for the best performance of your central air conditioning. When your home reaches the desired temperature the air conditioning should automatically shut off. With a properly working thermostat it should automatically turn back on if the temperature rises above the desired setting.

Window Air Conditioners
As with central air, window air conditioning units can benefit greatly from routine maintenance. First, consider placement of the window unit. It is best to avoid direct sun, falling debris, and rain gutters. Like central air, the performance of your window air conditioner will be drastically reduced if not placed in a good location. When installing window air conditioning, first make sure the unit is the right size for the window it is to be placed in. Window units come in a variety of sizes and shapes and pretty much any window can be fitted with one. Seal all leaks around the air conditioner with foam weatherstripping. Generally you can buy air conditioner seals by the foot or prepackaged in various lengths. Just cut to fit and install, making sure the edges are tight. If necessary, double the weatherstripping in areas where there are large gaps and use tape to hold it in place.

Other than being notorious for air leaks, window units can also leak water into the window frame and down your walls. To avoid this common problem make sure the air conditioner sits level in the window. If you must, use waterproof tape or sealant across the bottom edge of the window sill before installing the air conditioning unit. Once installed, for further protection against water use the waterproof tape across the bottom of the window sill, on the part that you see in the home. If properly waterproofed, even if a little water gets in the window sill it should not leak inside and drip down your walls.

Save Energy
No matter what type of air conditioning unit you are using there are several things you can do to improve the output of cold air. First, regularly clean or replace dirty air filters. The more dirt and dust that collects on the filter the harder the air conditioner has to work to push air through it. Filters are meant to catch the dirt and dander in air so you don't have to breathe it, but they can only hold so much. Window units should be cleaned every 2-3 weeks and central air units may be fine for up to two months depending on what model and type of filter you are using. Filters that catch the maximum amount of dirt in the air will produce better air quality and last longer. But, overall efficiency will decrease resulting in wasted energy. A thinner filter will work best but you will be replacing or cleaning it more often. To save money buy the kind that can be cleaned with water or a vacuum.

Secondly, if you want to save money you have to keep the house cool once the optimal temperature is reached. Sun shinning through windows can be enough to heat up a room even with your air conditioner on full blast. Close blinds and curtains to block the sun and make sure all windows are shut before operating your air conditioning system. Keep exterior doors shut and try not to go in and out of the house constantly. This part might be tough if you have kids but you just have to stay on top of them about shutting the doors.

It may seem like common sense, but don't run your air conditioner when no one is at home. Instead of leaving the air conditioner running all day while you are at work, school, or otherwise set a timer that will allow it to come on at a certain time. For central air units you can usually use your thermostat for this purpose. If your thermostat does not have a built in timer you can install one on the air conditioning unit itself. If this is necessary call a technician to do the work for the best results. For window units you can simply plug into a timer that you preset for the desired times.

And last but not least, if you are using older units you may want to consider upgrading to a newer air conditioner. Newer models are made to be energy efficient and will help reduce the amount of electricity you use to run them. Operating an older system may not only be wasteful but may also be difficult when it comes to repairs and maintenance. Upgrade to what you can afford and you will see a marked improvement in your energy usage. With these tips you should be able to drastically decrease the amount of energy you are using and save money in the long run.