by Laurie Childree

Created on: June 30, 2007

Think of the air conditioning unit on the home as the heart that pumps the life blood of cold air though the veins we call vents. Like anything else a homes air conditioner works more efficiently when they are properly maintained. At the start of summer have the unit serviced; this may feel a bit hard on the wallet at the moment but in the long run it will save a tremendous amount of money. It is far less expensive to maintain an air conditioning unit than it is to replace one. Something as simple as a clogged air filter can drastically reduce the efficiency, so be sure to change or clean the air filter once a month at the least to ensure proper air flow. Insure the filter is the right size for the unit as well; an air filter that is too thick will reduce the amount of air coming out of the vents.

Setting the thermostat to a constant temperature helps to insure the unit is not put under additional strain by trying to catch up to the sudden drop in the setting. A thermostat with a timer on it will help to adjust the temperature to the desired level during those hours when the home is empty. The recommended setting for your thermostat is 78 degrees. Turning fans on will help to keep this setting as closely as possible and in some climates may even allow the setting to be increased a by a few degrees.

Prevent direct rays of sunlight from entering the home by keeping the blinds closed on the eastern and western sides of the home during the hottest parts of the day. The additional heat from the suns rays increases the inside temperature forcing the unit to work harder. Later in the evening open the blinds to allow hot air to escape back outside, as hot air gets trapped in the home during the day often putting a strain on the air conditioner. While cooking turn on the exhaust fan over the stove to pull the hot air out of the home, this will help to keep the inside temperature down. The simple act of waiting until later in the evening to cook, run the clothes dryer and use the dishwasher will also help to alleviate some of the heat build up inside the home.

Try using a dehumidifier to remove the humidity in the air. The level of comfort experienced will increase once humidity is taken out of the air.

Insure that the air conditioning unit is out of direct sunlight. The recommended placement is on the north side of the home. Planting trees and shrubs near the unit when the recommended placement is not possible will not only help shade the unit but will provide much needed shade for the home; again reducing the strain placed on the unit.

It is also vitally important to have the right sized unit for the home. A unit that is too small will have to work twice as hard to cool the same amount of space that a larger unit would. Also make sure that the duct work is the right size, a service technician can check this for you as well. These are just a few ways to help a central air conditioning unit to work more efficiently.

Sources cited:
http://saveenergy.about.com/od/homecooling/tp/ ac_usage.htm
http://homeparents.about.com/od/housekee ping/qt/air_conditioner.htm

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