While the summer in Boise, ID is always a wonderful time of year, there are certain downsides to the season. One of the most frustrating parts of the summer is dealing with rising energy bills. As the temperature outside gets higher and higher, you and your family need to keep the air conditioning cranked up to maintain a comfortable atmosphere in your home. Unfortunately, though, the more heavily you lean on the AC, the more money you’ll have to dish out when the monthly electricity bills come around. Here are a few tips to improve the efficiency of your home’s air conditioner.
1. Replace Your Air Filter
Whenever your air conditioner is running, its air filter is trapping a variety of airborne contaminants. Eventually, this will cause the filter to become clogged, which will restrict the system’s airflow and worsen its performance and efficiency. Additionally, the AC unit will be more likely to experience a malfunction or complete breakdown. To avoid these problems, it’s always advised to keep a close eye on your AC filter and replace it routinely. The beginning of summer is an excellent time to swap your dirty filter for a new one. You shouldn’t stop there, though; if you want your air conditioner to remain healthy and efficient throughout the summer season, you should stay diligent about replacing it regularly.
2. Schedule an AC Tune-Up
If you want to consistently get great results from your air conditioner, staying on top of regular maintenance is an absolute must. By scheduling a professional tune-up in the late spring or early summer, you can ensure that it operates at peak efficiency when you need it the most.
In the greater Boise area, you can always give us a call at Express Plumbing Heating & Air to handle your AC maintenance. One of our skilled cooling technicians will promptly visit your home, clean your AC unit, and conduct a thorough inspection of the system. In addition to improving the efficiency, performance, and overall health of your air conditioner, the service will uncover any problems with the appliance. Plus, keeping up with yearly maintenance can improve your indoor air quality and extend the lifespan of your AC unit by up to five years.
3. Have Your Ductwork Cleaned
Duct cleaning is another high-quality service we offer at Express Plumbing Heating & Air, and it can go a long way toward improving your AC unit’s efficiency. You see, when your household air ducts become packed with contaminants like dust and dirt, your air conditioner has to crank up the air pressure to keep your home comfortable. That increased air pressure requires more energy, which will make a significant difference when it comes to your monthly bills. When you enlist our services, your hired professional will thoroughly clean all of your air ducts, providing your cooling system with clean, open pathways to circulate air. During the process, we’ll also check for any leaks or damage. If your ductwork has any of these issues, discovering them early could save you money and hassle in the long run.
4. Clean Out Your Vents
If any of the air vents around your dwelling are clogged or excessively dirty, your air conditioner will have to work harder to do its job. As a result, the system’s energy efficiency will suffer, and it will be significantly more likely to experience a mechanical failure. Plus, you may have uneven temperatures around your home. To prevent this issue, you should make it part of your routine to regularly clean your vents, with the beginning of summer as a great time to start. Fortunately, household air vents are typically pretty easy to clean. All you’ll need is a screwdriver to remove the covers and a vacuum cleaner with an extension hose to suck the dirt, dust, and debris out of the vents.
5. Address Any Air Leaks
Although you may not even be aware of their presence, air leaks around your home can be extremely detrimental to the efficiency of your air conditioner. Even the tiniest gaps and cracks are notorious for allowing conditioned air to escape the house. During the scorching Boise summer, your AC unit will have to keep cycling to replace the cool air that’s leaking out. As a general rule, the more air leaks there are around your home, the more energy exerted and more expensive your cooling bills will be.
If you want to improve your AC efficiency, take some time at the start of summer to inspect your home’s doorways and windows for any gaps and leaks. The leaks usually form around the outside edges, and if you can’t see them with your eyes, you may be able to feel the airflow with your hands. When you discover a leak, you should be able to effectively seal it yourself using weather stripping and caulking, which are easy to obtain at a hardware store or retail outlet. If you don’t feel confident in sealing them, you can always contact a professional.
6. Clear the Area Around Your Outdoor Unit
With a central air or ductless air conditioning system, there will be at least one outdoor unit located outside your home. Over time, there’s a high probability that leaves, twigs, and debris will accumulate on and around the unit, which can affect its airflow and reduce the system’s energy efficiency. When the weather starts to heat up, it would be wise to clear the area around the outdoor unit. You’ll want to rake leaves and dispose of them properly, keep your grass or shrubbery cut, and dispose of any other debris that has settled in the area. Ideally, you should stay consistent with monitoring the outdoor unit and its surroundings year-round.
7. Give Your Air Conditioner Occasional Rest
One thing you’ll want to avoid during the hot summer is overworking your home’s air conditioner. If your AC unit is blowing cold air 24/7, it will put lots of wear and tear on the system, which will cause its performance, efficiency, and overall health to decline. If you can find some time each day to give the cooling unit a break, it can go a long way toward keeping it energy-efficient and effective. For example, you can try turning the thermostat up by five to eight degrees each night when you go to bed. Doing so can significantly lower your electricity costs and reduce excess strain on your AC unit so it can continue to run smoothly.
At Express Plumbing Heating & Air, we’re proud to be a trusted name for plumbing, heating, and cooling services in the greater Boise area. Our family-owned business has been faithfully serving the area since 2006, and we’ve developed a reputation for high-quality results and customer satisfaction. Our expert team is available to provide maintenance, repairs, or installation for your heating or cooling system. We also offer duct cleaning, indoor air quality services, and a variety of services related to drains and sewers. Visit our website for more information on our products and specials. If you’re ready to schedule an appointment, give our offices a call today!
