Most homeowners are aware that keeping a property cool in the hot summer months can use a significant amount of energy. While you may be prepared for your energy bills to increase as the temperatures go up, this doesn’t stop it being an unpleasant surprise if there is a sudden spike. It is important not to ignore any spikes in your energy bill as they can indicate a potentially serious issue with your air conditioning system. Here we will discuss the potential reasons why your air conditioner may be using more energy.
Poor Practices:
Do you leave your air conditioner running when no-one is home? Do you try to cool the whole house when you are only in one or two rooms? These and other inefficient practices can cause you to waste energy when cooling your home. Fortunately, these issues can often be corrected with the installation of a programmable thermostat and zoning controls. These will allow you to reduce your energy consumption as you only cool the rooms and areas you need when you need them. For example, you can set the zone controls so that you are not cooling sleeping areas during the day. Additionally, you can program the thermostat to bring your home to a comfortable temperature when you are on your way home at the end of the day.
Fault in the Unit:
Faults and problems with appliances including your air conditioner will sometimes happen. Unfortunately, a fault can also trigger increased energy use. When your faulty air conditioner is attempting to run it will use more energy. Even something as minor as a broken capacitor can compromise the entire performance of a condenser. If you have not noticed that your air conditioner is not working as well as usual, a spike in your energy bill should prompt you to have a professional HVAC specialist check your system for any faults.
Declining Efficiency:
As appliances age, they will lose efficiency. As components wear and the system becomes aged, it will naturally use more energy than it used to when performing the same task. Although your air conditioner may have done an admirable job of keeping you cool last summer, you may need to face the fact that it is no longer energy efficient. If your air conditioner is over ten years old, it is unlikely to be energy efficient and probably needs to be replaced. Additionally, it is worth considering that the developments in technology in the last ten years will mean that a new unit will be far more efficient than your old system could ever have been.
Keeping Cool While You Wait for Your HVAC Technician:
While it is a good idea to turn off your air conditioning while you wait for a professional to assess any issues, this is not always feasible. If you need to keep your air conditioner on, it is possible to reduce the problem and stay cool. Measures such as keeping everyone together in one common area, minimizing opening external doors and windows or setting the thermostat a couple of degrees higher will reduce strain on the system and should minimize your energy use.