3 Tips for a More Efficient AC Unit

The cost of electricity in Hollywood just keeps getting higher and higher everytime the mail carrier drops the FPL bill in the mailbox. Although cooler weather will be here in a few months, most of us still use their air conditioners to keep the house comfortable.

Besides, one small hole in the window screen would cause a slew of our annoying, Florida insects to invade the home. Regardless of the time of year, it’s always best to do what you can to make sure that your AC unit is running as efficiently as possible.

Change Your Filters

It’s amazing that there are so many people who underestimate the importance of changing the AC unit’s filters. The filters are there to stop dirt, dust, hair and debris from getting into the system. When the filters are dirty or clocked, the unit needs to work a lot harder to cool your home or business. Ideally, the filters for your unit should be changed at least once each month. When the homeowner has dogs, cats or other indoor pets, they should be changed every other week. If someone in the home has had a cold or the flu, the filter should also be changed. This will prevent the redistribution of germs throughout the house.

Open the Vents

There are a lot of people who think that they can save a few dollars on their electricity by closing the vents in rooms that they don’t use. In all honesty, this looks like it would work on paper, but nothing is farther from the truth. While this does stop the cool air from being pumped into the unused rooms, it can cause leaks in the unit’s air ducts. The pressure of the air being pushed through the ducts will be blocked when the vents are closed. That air pressure will build up because it has nowhere to go. The constant flow of air is too much for the vents and simply must be released. The pressure breaks through the vents creating holes in the ducts. This will cause the unit to work very hard to keep the house cool, as well as allow dirt and debris to get into the ductwork and be distributed through the unit and the house.

Trim the Bushes

Many people plant bushes around their outdoor systems to improve the landscapes of their homes. While this is aesthetically pleasing, it can block the airflow to the unit. Keeping the outdoor unit clean is also important. Every month or so, you should actually hose the unit off. This will remove any dirt that has collected on it, and remove any spiders, frogs and lizards that are taking up residence. This will help the unit to run more efficiently.