You’re likely going to be using your air conditioner pretty soon and, as the weather continues to get warmer, you’ll be called upon to use it more and more until it becomes a daily exercise. You’re going to need to spend more on monthly cooling bills by default when running the system so often. But take care that the need for increased air conditioner use doesn’t make you pay more than you should for the privilege. By improving your air conditioner’s efficiency this summer, you can help lower those bills and get a handle on the wear-and-tear that hot weather inflicts on your system.
Get It Serviced
The first step towards improving your air conditioner’s efficiency is to schedule a maintenance session from a trained technician. This isn’t the same as a repair session, which is intended to fix one specific problem. Instead, it lets the technician look for signs that such a problem may be coming in the next few weeks or months. It also allows them to correct countless little issues that don’t merit a repair call in and of themselves, but which can add up to trouble if you let them. That includes things like loose bolts, dirty components, low refrigerant and moving parts in need of lubrication, Besides lowering the risk of repairs, such efforts also improve the system’s efficiency, helping it cool your home while using less energy in the process.
Look Into Upgrades
If you need something a little more extensive to cut down on high summer cooling costs, consider an upgrade to your air conditioner: something that doesn’t actually replace the system but helps it do its job better. Every home is unique and you should consult with a technician to determine which system is right for you, but possible options include:
- Dehumidifiers. High humidity is a regular occurrence in our neck of the woods, and can add a great deal of strain as your air conditioner struggles to contain it. A whole-house dehumidifier can remove that strain and lower costs, as well as removing the gross clammy feeling from your home.
- Zone Control Systems. This is a series of dampers placed in your ducts and dividing your home into sections. Each one can be controlled separately, allowing you to turn off the cool air in parts of the home you aren’t using while still running it in parts of the home you are. In addition to cutting down on cooling costs considerably, it lets you tailor the temperature in different parts of the home to suit individual tastes.
- Thermostats. Thermostats are designed to last for a long time, which means yours may be decades old. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that, though recent advances in the field may lead you to replace it. In particular, features like smart technology will analyze your cooling habits and make micro-adjustments to help cut down on the costs of running your air conditioner.
For air conditioning maintenance, repairs and upgrades in Oregon City, OR, call The Clean Air Act today!