The heat in Modesto, CA, isn’t going away any time soon. So, ensuring your AC is at an optimal performance this summer is an integral part of ensuring your system’s longevity. It will also help you avoid the problems caused by wasted energy.
Fortunately, there are several ways to detect the likelihood that your air conditioner is properly distributing energy. There is also a way to prove your AC’s efficiency on your own.
Given that your air conditioner’s primary function is to cool your home, it’s essential to know when that cooling is wasting energy. The standards below are what a system with good efficiency should look like, and your energy bill should reflect that. If you notice that you lack in any of these areas, urgent maintenance is needed to circumvent additional money loss.
Consistent Airflow
When you set the temperature you want to reach in your home, an excellent way to know if it’s achieved efficiently is airflow consistency. Does the machine seem to turn on immediately, do its job and then turn off? If this is the case, it’s the first step in building the proof that you have an efficient air conditioner system.
On the other hand, if your AC never seemed to turn off, then it’s likely you’re wasting energy. The same goes for shorty cycling, which means your system is on for only short amounts of time, leaving your home at an undesirable temperature. The thermostat is a likely culprit if this is the case.
Temperature
Once you’ve entered your desired temperature, the cool air you feel in your home should remain pretty consistent throughout the day. If this is the case, then your AC is most likely appropriately allocating energy.
If you experience changes in the room’s temperature, you likely have a thermostat issue. It’s possible that something is causing your thermostat to have a false temperature reading, causing it to cool the room too much or too little. However, before you schedule for maintenance, run through this checklist of other possible solutions first:
- Remove nearby heat sources (lamps, TV, sunlight)
- Change your thermostat’s batteries if possible)
- Hard reset your thermostat
Bills
If you have kept track of how much you spend on energy, you may notice a light or significant change. Utility bills are one of the most obvious indicators of your energy efficiency. There should be no large jumps or gradual increases in your bill other than the days you purposely spent more energy than usual cooling your home.
The Age of Your System
If your AC is under 10 years of age, and you’ve seen nothing but good signs that you have great efficiency, there most likely isn’t any reason to worry. The modern air conditioners are the most efficient ones we’ve ever seen. So, congratulations on helping Earth become a better place.
After the 10-year mark, however, the efficiency of your air conditioner is much more likely to drop. You will also see an increase in necessary maintenance and repairs. Tune-ups and maintenance will be helpful through this time as you search for a replacement for your system.
Discovering Your Efficiency
It’s easy to perform an accurate inspection of your air conditioner’s energy efficiency. First, grab a thermometer. Then, after you’ve got one, follow these steps to gauge if your efficiency is good:
- Place your thermometer on the supply register
- Hold it there for five minutes
- Record the temperature
- Repeat for the return vent
If the air coming out is at least 15 degrees cooler than the air coming in, your air is running efficiently, and you have not wasted energy. However, any warmer than 15 degrees, you may have a problem, and you should contact a technician and explain your issue.
The “No Stinger” Promise
Here at Honey's Air & Solar, we value our customers, and that means we give top-notch customer service and “no stinger” pricing. The price you agree to is the price you will pay, and every system comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
We are happy to assist you with your heating, cooling, indoor air quality, and duct cleaning needs. We do everything from installations and repairs to maintenance. So, if you aren’t quite sure if your air conditioner is as efficient as it should be, contact us, and we will make sure to return your home to its former comfort.