Air conditioning is one of the household appliances that consumes the most electricity, and it’s a popular option to keep homes cool during the summer. However, there are ways to reduce energy consumption and keep your air conditioning unit in good condition. In this article, we provide some recommendations to help you prepare your air conditioning for the upcoming months and lower your energy bills.
After not using the appliance for a while, it may collect dust or experience wear and tear, which can increase its energy consumption. Therefore, it’s important to review and address any potential issues to save on your monthly electricity bill.
What to check the air conditioning
Wondering what to check before summer arrives? You don’t need much, except in the case of an older or faulty device. Conducting some basic checks can help your air conditioning work properly and reduce energy consumption.
Clean the filters
Before the summer arrives, the first step to prepare your air conditioning is to clean its filters. Even if you have already cleaned them, it’s possible that they are still very dirty. How often you clean them depends on how frequently you use the device. By checking and cleaning the filters, you can improve its performance and prevent potential problems that may cause the device to malfunction or shorten its lifespan.
It’s worth noting that the type of filter you have depends on the model of your air conditioning. Some filters are washable, while others are disposable. Therefore, it’s important to know your specific model and learn what kind of filter it uses. This way, you can determine the appropriate cleaning method or if you need to replace the filter altogether.
Put the fan mode
It’s a simple yet effective tip to prepare your air conditioning for summer. During the winter season, dust can accumulate inside the air conditioning unit, which can affect its performance and increase energy consumption.
To prevent this, you can switch on the fan mode for 15 to 30 minutes before turning on the air conditioning. This will help clear out any dust and debris inside the unit, ensuring that it works efficiently and uses less energy when you need to use it. Additionally, running the fan mode consumes very little energy, so it won’t significantly impact your electricity bill.
Check that there are no leaks
Another important aspect to check is the unit for any leaks. If you notice water coming out, it’s a clear indication that there’s a problem. This issue can lead to higher energy consumption. It’s important to analyze the cause of the leak and find a solution.
On the other hand, if you observe that there are no leaks and the unit is working properly, that’s great. You should also check that it is cooling effectively and not making any unusual noises. If you have an older unit, you may need to pay more attention to these types of issues as they tend to be more prevalent.
Adjust the temperature well
Before summer arrives and you start using your air conditioning, it’s a good idea to adjust it to a suitable temperature. Perhaps you have it set too low and just turn it on or off, or even have it automated. However, this can cause you to consume more energy than necessary.
Keep in mind that each degree of difference can increase consumption by about 7%, so you don’t need to have the air conditioning set to a very low temperature like 19 degrees.
In addition to adjusting the temperature, there are other points to consider to prepare your air conditioning for the summer months. Check the filters, look for leaks, and ensure it cools properly and doesn’t make strange noises. If you use home automation, you can even use an old router to improve the Wi-Fi signal and control the device remotely.
