How to Improve Your A/C Efficiency Posted on September 6, 2017September 8, 2017 by Vital AC Solutions | Posted in Blog Air conditioning has become more affordable in recent years, but the costs can add up pretty quickly without proper care. Regular maintenance can prevent the need for expensive repairs and keep your air conditioning system running at peak efficiency, giving you the greatest amount of cooling for your investment. Evaluating your cooling needs will help you determine when and where you need cooling most. Even certain lifestyle changes can help your air conditioning unit do its best work. Keep your ducts in a row: insulate exposed ducts. People think of insulation as a feature that homes need in cold weather, but what insulation does is inhibit heat transfer. Insulating ducts will keep cool air cold, just as it keeps warm air hot. Clam up for comfort: poorly fitted windows and doors can leak cool air and bring in warmer air. If your windows or doors are older, they may need to be replaced to reduce the amount of cool air leaving your home. Clean as a whistle: ask your HVAC professional about proper maintenance procedures for your air conditioning unit. Some steps will be obvious, such as gently clearing away debris, but other tasks, such as cleaning out the condenser coil, should only be done with instruction from your HVAC professional. Vacuuming indoor vents to keep them dust-free will prevent clogs, and can be done during normal house cleaning. Get with the program: a programmable thermostat will make quick work of air conditioning efficiency. Determine the times of day when you need cooling most, and set the daily and weekly programs to provide the right amount of cooling. A program set to maintain a particular room temperature is much more efficient than simple level settings that you may forget to change as the day becomes warmer or you leave the house. A programmed air conditioning system can also help protect items that may be sensitive to changes in humidity or temperature, such as art or certain musical instruments. Too hot to handle: if it produces heat, keep it away from your thermostat. Your HVAC professional will know to keep the thermostat away from stoves and fireplaces, but lamps, irons, or heat guns used for extended periods can send the wrong message to your thermostat. If your air conditioner seems to be working overtime while you iron next to the thermostat, changing your housekeeping routine could save you a bundle. Cooking during the hottest time of the day, or leaving the windows or doors open on hot days can all put strain on an air conditioner. These steps will not only reduce the cost of cooling your home, but can also extend the life of your central air conditioning system. Take good care of your air conditioning system, and it will take good care of you. Comments comments