The San Antonio heat is no joke. Therefore, making sure that your air conditioner system maintains its efficiency should be a top priority. Doing so will save you money down the line. In addition, it will prevent many issues associated with wasted energy.
Luckily there is a way to prove that your energy efficiency is fine with nothing but a thermometer. There are also other ways to help you determine the likelihood of having AC efficiency.
How to Judge Efficiency
There are several things about your AC that are the standard. Anything below these standards is a sign that something isn’t operating correctly within your system, and your energy efficiency will likely take a dip. If you notice you lack in any of these areas, immediate maintenance is needed to avoid further money loss.
Reasonable Bills
The most common indicator of your energy efficiency is the amount of money you spend on energy. If you have kept track of these numbers, you will notice any changes or irregularities. Taking the days into account that you purposely used more energy than usual to cool your home, there should be no large jumps or gradual increases in your bill.
In these cases, there is usually a factor that is making your AC drain energy to perform its job. If an issue caused your machine to work harder than it should, you would notice these spikes in payment.
Air Quality
Good air quality is not only healthy for you and your family, but it’s a sign that your air conditioner is cycling cleanly. If your home doesn’t suffer from poor circulation, then your AC is doing a good job of keeping your home free of bad air quality.
However, when your home is humid or stuffy, it’s a sign that your AC is likely working harder to power through those conditions. When humidity wins over your AC, it will have to work harder to cool your home, wasting energy unnecessarily.
AC Running Consistently
Ideally, your air conditioner will act in predictable ways. When you set the temperature you want to reach, your system will turn on quickly, cool your home in a timely manner and then shut off. Any behavior within these limits means your AC uses the majority of its energy in the way intended.
However, if your system runs consistently or in short cycles, that’s a sign of a possible thermostat issue. That means your air conditioner is not registering the correct temperature, and it is acting unusually to try and meet a temperature that is not the same as the one you set. These problems require maintenance or even replacement as soon as possible.
Temperature
If you experience no changes, whether high or lower, in temperature, then that is a good sign. By design, your air conditioner will use the proper amount of energy in this process unless there is a misunderstanding of the temperature in the room.
If you experience changes in the room’s temperature, that means your thermostat is likely to blame. Before you schedule for maintenance, make sure no outside heat sources are influencing your thermostat. For example, nearby electronic appliances or even the sun shining onto the AC unit could give your thermostat a false reading. These false readings could cause your AC to work harder to cool your home and waste energy.
DIY Efficiency Check
You’ll need a thermometer to perform an accu
rate check of your air conditioner’s energy efficiency. After you get a thermometer, complete the steps below.
- On a hot day, run your AC for 15 minutes.
- Place your thermometer on the supply register.
- Take note of the temperature after five minutes.
- Repeat the process for the return vent.
If the air coming out is at least 15 degrees cooler than the air coming in, then you are in good shape. Any reading less than that, then contact a trained professional to troubleshoot your system and perform maintenance or help you in attaining a new system.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
MD Air Conditioning & Heating offers you a 100% satisfaction guarantee. That means we work around your schedule, and we work evenings and weekends to assist you in dealing with your emergencies. Our technicians can install, repair or maintain heating and air conditioner systems. In addition, we offer indoor air quality and water heaters. If you feel that your air conditioner lacks efficiency or you need more information about our services, call us today.
Tags: AC Efficiency, AC Tips