How to Make AC More Efficient During Summer

As we move toward the warmer season, we transition from hefty comforters to lighter linen bedspreads, fluffy sweaters to swimsuits, and furnaces to air conditioners. But if your AC isn’t producing temperatures that make it worth turning on, your unit may need a little more than a simple maintenance check. 

Whether you have central cooling or a unit in each accessible room, consider the following tips on how to make an AC more efficient. Bates Air and Heat, your number one Vero Beach heating and air conditioning services company, will walk you through what to do to make the most out of your set temperatures and how we can help.

Secure All Doors and Windows

With cool air wafting indoors, you may want to leave your doors and windows open. However, allowing your unit to run simultaneously lets controlled air out of your home instead of circulating it within your desired area, reducing the AC’s cooling power. 

Also, your cooling unit won’t turn off until the room reaches the temperature you set on your thermostat, so it will burn electricity for extended periods, heightening utility costs. 

You can prevent this by:

• Shutting all exterior windows and doors
• Closing all interior doors to unusable rooms like the basement or attic to limit the areas that need cooling
• Using weatherstripping, door sweeps, and other insulation to prevent air from seeping in or out of crevices

Properly Insulate Ducts 

Air doesn’t just seep out of entrances. Even if your home has proper insulation, you’ll still lose air if your unit’s ductwork isn’t up to par. Air conditioning vents last ten to fifteen years with annual maintenance, but with pressurized air constantly racing through them, they receive a lot of wear and tear that causes the beams to bend, crack, and split at the seams. 

Depending on your ventilation damage, you’ll lose between 10% and 50% of controlled air in your walls and floors, and your AC will work harder to create the appropriate room temperature. Call us, your neighborhood professionals, for ductwork cleaning, repairs, and installations that’ll get your system to 100% efficiency again. 

Cover Windows That Receive Bright Sunlight 

Sometimes, how to make an AC more efficient should focus less on your unit and more on what you allow into your home. Although we covered separating indoor and outdoor air, turn your attention to heat in other forms such as UV rays. 

Streams of sunlight warm not only your window but also your carpets and rugs, tile floors, cloth furniture, nearby clothes, and other fabric, metal, and natural stone surfaces. Once these items come in contact with UV rays, they hold heat, releasing it into your home. The best way to reduce this heat is by limiting the number of rays that pass through the window. 

While you may move indoor items that trap heat further from your windows, consider adding window layers to filter light, such as:

• Add window screens, especially solar or fiberglass screens that deter UV rays
• Use thick curtains or blinds to block the sun’s radiation, especially on the sides of your house that receive the most sun
• Place tinted film on your windows to allow sunlight in for brightness while reducing radiation

Don’t Allow Artificial Heat in Your Home

Now that you know how to keep natural hot air and radiation from penetrating your home, examine the heat your home produces from daily appliance usage. Many household appliances, from your washer and dryer to your refrigerator, create radiation. While it’s hard to cease using many of these convenient or necessary items, try limiting their use or waiting until the cooler evening temperatures to use them. 

For example, you could wash dishes manually. Not only will the cool water feel refreshing on your hands, but you’ll prevent dishwasher radiation. Otherwise, place a larger load in the washer in the evenings, reducing usage and limiting radiation. Also, curb the frequency of stove or oven usage by firing up the barbeque, outdoor kitchen, or using a smaller appliance like a microwave to reheat leftovers.

Utilize a Programmable or Smart Thermostat 

Another option for how to make an AC more efficient is by turning it off or raising the thermostat setting when applicable. The U.S. Department of Energy claims turning your air conditioning system up ten degrees for eight hours a day will lower your utility bills by 10%. Those eight hours can be when you’re sleeping or at work.

Using a programmable thermostat allows you to set weekly temperatures ahead of time, whether you use a one-week setting that gives you the same temperature every day, a 5-2 or 5-1-1 setting for a change during the weekends, or a 7-day setting for a different temperature daily.

A smart thermostat takes this further by permitting you to change your indoor temperature while you’re away from home. While it enables a slightly warmer house when you’re gone, it also allows you to make last-minute changes if you forget to raise the temperature before leaving or return home unexpectedly early. 

Regulate Maintenance Checks 

If your system is already in top-notch condition, worry less about how to make an AC more efficient and more about keeping it efficient. 

For instance, dirty filters block airflow with dust and dander. This air restriction causes your AC to work harder to produce your desired air temperature, potentially leading to a premature system breakdown, less cool air, and higher bills. Prevent this by cleaning or replacing air filters every one to three months. 

Also, call for annual maintenance where a specialist will go through a checklist, examining your system’s efficiency and repairing minor flaws before they become added expenses. 

Trust Our Five-Star Veteran-Owned Services 

Your AC unit is a complicated system requiring exceptional care that can prolong its lifespan and enhance its efficiency. At Bates Air and Heat, we provide five-star cleanings, repairs, and replacements in just one visit. Learn more about the common summer HVAC problems, how to make an AC more efficient, and what we can do to assist you before the summer becomes a scorcher. Call 772-837-5109 for a free Vero Beach consultation today!