HOW TO MAKE YOUR AIR CONDITIONER RUN MORE EFFICIENTLY
Is your air conditioner working harder than it needs to?
The efficiency of your air conditioner isn't just about the system itself. How you use it, how your home is set up and how well the system is maintained can all make a difference to how effectively it heats and cools your home.
From using zoning and ceiling fans to improving airflow, managing sunlight and keeping your system maintained, there are plenty of simple things homeowners can do to help their air conditioner perform at its best.
Here are some of our top tips for getting the most out of your air conditioner in Bendigo and surrounding areas.
1. Use zoning to only heat or cool the areas you're using
If you have a ducted system with zoning, make the most of it.
There's little point heating or cooling the entire house when you're only spending time in a couple of rooms.
Zoning allows you to direct heating and cooling to the areas you're actually using, while reducing airflow to rooms that don't need it.
For example, during the evening you might have your living areas running while reducing or switching off zones covering unused bedrooms.
It's a simple way to make your system work smarter rather than harder.
If you don't have zoning but regularly find yourself only using certain parts of the house, it may also be worth considering whether your current system is still the right fit for your home.
2. Don't block your airflow
Your air conditioner needs good airflow to work effectively.
For split systems, make sure furniture, curtains and other objects aren't blocking the indoor unit. You want the conditioned air to be able to move freely into the room.
The same applies to ducted systems. Keep furniture and other objects away from ceiling vents where possible.
If airflow is restricted, your system may need to run for longer to achieve the temperature you're after.
It sounds simple, but giving your air conditioner plenty of room to breathe can make a noticeable difference.
3. Use your ceiling fans
Ceiling fans don't actually cool the air in your home, but they can make you feel cooler by helping circulate air across your skin.
That means you can often set your air conditioner a little higher while still feeling comfortable.
For example, rather than setting your cooling to a very low temperature, you may be able to combine your air conditioner with a ceiling fan to create a comfortable environment without asking your cooling system to do all the work.
Fans are also useful for helping distribute conditioned air throughout a room, particularly in larger living spaces.
4. Keep the heat out in the first place
Your air conditioner will always work better when your home isn't constantly gaining heat from outside.
Windows are one of the biggest sources of heat gain during summer, particularly when they're exposed to direct afternoon sun.
Use blinds, curtains, shutters, awnings or external shading to reduce the amount of direct sunlight entering your home.
Where possible, think about which windows are exposed to the morning and afternoon sun and make sure they're shaded during the hottest parts of the day.
The less heat entering your home, the less work your air conditioner needs to do.
5. Check your home's insulation
If your air conditioner seems to run constantly but your home still struggles to maintain a comfortable temperature, the problem may not be the air conditioner itself.
Insulation plays an important role in helping your home retain the temperature you're trying to create.
Good insulation can help keep heat out during summer and retain warmth during winter, meaning your air conditioner doesn't have to work as hard to compensate.
If you're renovating, building or noticing that your home heats up and cools down very quickly, it's worth looking at the insulation and overall thermal performance of the house as well as the air conditioning system.
6. Set your thermostat sensibly
It can be tempting to turn the thermostat right down when the house feels hot, or turn it right up when you're trying to warm things up in winter.
But setting an extreme temperature doesn't necessarily make your air conditioner heat or cool the room faster.
Instead, choose a comfortable temperature and allow the system to work towards maintaining it.
Constantly changing the temperature or switching the system on and off can also make it harder to maintain a consistent indoor environment.
Modern inverter air conditioners are designed to adjust their output as needed, so once your home reaches a comfortable temperature, allowing the system to maintain it can be a more efficient approach.
7. Close off areas you're not using
If you're using a split system to cool or heat a particular room, don't make it work harder by trying to condition the entire house.
Closing doors to other areas can help keep the conditioned air where you actually need it.
This can be particularly useful with bedrooms, home offices or smaller living spaces where a single split system is being used.
With ducted systems, zoning can provide a more targeted solution by controlling which areas receive heating or cooling.
The principle is the same: don't spend energy conditioning spaces you're not using.
8. Make the most of overnight cooling
Summer nights in Bendigo can provide a great opportunity to give your air conditioner a break.
When the outside temperature drops, you may be able to turn your air conditioner off and take advantage of cooler outdoor air by opening windows and doors, where practical and secure.
The timing is important. You don't want to throw open all your windows while it's still hotter outside than it is inside.
Instead, once the evening temperature has dropped, allowing cooler air to move through the house can help release some of the heat that's built up during the day.
Then, in the morning, close things back up before the outside temperature starts climbing again.
Of course, this depends on the weather, your home's layout and security, and whether you have an evaporative or refrigerated cooling system.
9. Keep your air conditioner maintained
Even the most efficient air conditioner won't perform at its best if it's dirty or poorly maintained.
For split systems, regularly check and clean the filters according to the manufacturer's instructions.
For ducted and evaporative systems, regular professional servicing can help identify issues before they become bigger problems and ensure important components are operating properly.
It's also worth paying attention to changes in performance.
If your air conditioner is taking longer to reach temperature, airflow feels weaker than usual, you're noticing unusual noises or your energy use seems to have increased, it may be time to have the system checked.
Regular maintenance can help keep your system running efficiently and extend its working life.
10. Use your air conditioner before your home gets uncomfortable
One of the easiest ways to make your air conditioner work harder is to wait until your home is extremely hot or cold before turning it on.
Once the temperature inside your home has moved a long way from where you want it, your air conditioner has a much bigger job to do.
During summer, closing blinds and getting your cooling started before the hottest part of the day can help prevent your home from heating up excessively.
The same principle applies in winter. Maintaining a comfortable temperature can be easier than allowing your home to become very cold and then trying to warm it up quickly.
What if my air conditioner still isn't running efficiently?
If you've tried all of the above and your air conditioner still seems to be working harder than it should, there could be an issue with the system itself.
The air conditioner may be incorrectly sized for the space, there could be a problem with airflow, or the system may need servicing or repair.
Your home could also be contributing to the problem through poor insulation, heat gain from windows or other issues with its thermal performance.
That's why improving efficiency isn't always about replacing the air conditioner.
Sometimes a small change to how you use the system or your home can make a big difference. Other times, having a professional assess the system can identify an issue that's difficult to spot yourself.
Get more from your air conditioner
Making your air conditioner more efficient doesn't have to mean making your home less comfortable.
Use zoning where available, keep airflow clear, make use of ceiling fans, shade your windows, maintain your insulation and be sensible with your thermostat settings.
Most importantly, keep your air conditioner properly maintained and pay attention if its performance starts to change.
At Holloway Air & Electrical, we help homeowners across Bendigo and surrounding areas get the most from their heating and cooling systems.
Whether your current air conditioner needs a service, isn't performing as it should, or you're considering a more efficient split system or ducted solution, our team can help you find the right approach for your home.
Want to make your air conditioner work more efficiently? Get in touch with Holloway Air & Electrical today.