If you have an air conditioner in your home, you should know that it can be the single biggest driver of your energy costs. That’s why, when temperatures rise and your cooling bills soar, it’s good to know all the tricks for lowering them.
We all know that the air conditioner is a more power-hungry product, so we can’t save money without using it, but it also saves us from the hot summer discomfort. How to use your air conditioner economically?
The temperature of the air conditioner should be set properly. It is recommended that you set the temperature of each room to 24-27 degrees Celsius, which not only allows you to feel comfortable, but also extends the life of the air conditioner. In addition, because the running cost of the air conditioner increases exponentially as the temperature decreases, it is very important to set a proper temperature.
To avoid direct sunlight entering the home, it is recommended to install a window screen or use a curtain/shade on a sunny day. In addition, you can use reflective film on your windows to keep heat out and let in light while keeping your house cool in summer and warm in winter. Also be sure to clean the outdoor unit regularly to keep it running at peak efficiency.
Use your air conditioner as efficiently as possible. Keep the windows and doors closed in the room that you are using the air conditioner in. If the air conditioner is placed in a window, keep the windows and doors in that room closed.
If your air conditioner uses water, add ice to the water reservoir. This will cool down the water, which will cool down the air more effectively than plain water. Also, if you have a swamp cooler, add more water. Swamp coolers work by evaporating water to lower air temperature; more water means faster and more effective evaporation.
If your air conditioner has a “sleep mode” or “night mode” option, use it at night when it’s not so hot out and you want to save energy. The sleep mode typically lowers the thermostat setting by 2-3 degrees every hour until it gets to a certain point where the unit shuts off for the remainder of the night.
When it comes to air conditioning, there is nothing more efficient than not turning it on at all. If possible, try to only use your AC when you’re home and when it’s actually hot enough to need cooling. This is especially important if you don’t have a programmable thermostat.
Don’t set your AC temperature too low. It takes more energy for your AC to cool a space down, than it does to keep it cool once it’s cooled down, so set your thermostat as high as you can tolerate. All modern air conditioners come with an Energy Saver or Eco Mode, which will turn off the compressor (the part that chills the air) when the desired temperature has been reached. The fan will continue to run until the temperature rises by an additional degree or two and then the compressor will kick back on.