How to Improve the Efficiency of Central Air Conditioners

Summer months can be hot and humid. It is important to have a central air conditioner that is energy efficient. This will ensure your home stays comfortable and safe. Although an air conditioner can make your home more comfortable, it will likely cost you a lot. We've compiled a list of ways to increase the efficiency of your central air conditioner.

1.) Clean Your Vents

Regular inspections of your home's ceilings, walls, and floors are a great way to increase the efficiency of your air conditioner. To begin, inspect each return and supply vent to make sure it isn't covered in dirt, hair, or grime. These materials could be obstructing the airflow through your home. This can negatively impact the efficiency and make it more difficult to supply cold air and maintain your home's internal temperature.

The system will require additional energy to move cold air through your vents and ducts. This will increase the cost of your utility bills. You can remove the vent covers and vacuum any visible obstructions. You may need to use soap and a sponge to clean vent covers that are very dirty. To remove dirt and debris, you can also insert the vacuum into your air duct.

You can increase the efficiency of your air conditioner by keeping each vent open. The possibility of excessive air pressure forming in your home could cause damage to the central air conditioner by closing the vents. Although vacuuming your air conditioner's vent covers and ducts is a great way to increase its efficiency, it may not be possible to reach the dirt and foreign objects within your ducts without special tools. We recommend that you schedule an appointment for professional air duct cleaning.

2.) Clean the Air Conditioner Condenser Unit

A great way to increase your air conditioner's efficiency is to keep your outdoor condenser unit clean. The outdoor condenser unit of your air conditioner includes the compressor, condenser fan and condenser coil. The condenser of an air conditioner is designed to let out heat energy that has been absorbed by the system's refrigerant. Follow these steps to clean your condenser:

Remove excess dirt from condenser fins and deactivate power

Deactivating the power supply at your outdoor deactivation panel is the first step in cleaning your condenser. This will help improve the efficiency of your air conditioner. Next, clean the fins with a vacuum. After cleaning the exterior condenser unit, you can use a straightening device from your local hardware shop to adjust the fins.

Take out the interior fan and remove all debris from the Condenser's interior

Next, remove the grille from the top of the condenser air conditioner with a screwdriver. Pull the fan apart carefully without damaging the electric wires. To remove leaves and dirt from the condenser fan, we recommend using a few moist paper towels.

Use a Hose to Sanitize Your Fins

To clean the condenser fins of the air conditioner, spray it with a water hose at a gentle pressure. Finally, inspect the fan motor for any lubrication ports. To increase the efficiency and safety of your central air conditioner, add a few drops of motor oil to each port.

A great way to increase the efficiency of your air conditioner is to clean the condenser unit. You can schedule an appointment online or give us a call to clean your system. WM Henderson provides air conditioner repair, maintenance, and installation services for homes throughout Pennsylvania. Our team will help you choose the right air conditioner system for your home.

3.) Eliminate all types of air leaks from your house

As your home ages, you may notice moderate to severe leaks near your doors and windows. Although a few leaks are not something to be concerned about, large numbers of leaks can cause your home to lose cool air and reduce your air conditioners efficiency. Your air conditioner will need to be active longer to keep your home comfortable.

To identify any air leaks, inspect every window and door in your house. Apply caulk or weather strip products to any areas that are affecting the efficiency of your air conditioner. A great way to decrease the time it takes for your air conditioner to remove heat and humidity is to have air leaks fixed.

4.) Replace your old air filter

Dirty, grimy, or dirty old filters can negatively affect the airflow in your house. It will be more difficult for your central air conditioner to circulate clean, cool air throughout your home if the filter is blocked. The system will need to be activated longer to keep your home warm. We recommend that you check your air conditioner every month to make sure it is not contaminated.

5.) Close your Blinds and Curtains

You can block most of the heat energy from the sun by closing your blinds and curtains. By closing your blinds, you can reduce the number of cycles that your air conditioner must run each day to maintain your home's comfort.

6.) Insulate Your Air Ducts

Leakages in your home's air ducts could cause your air conditioner to be inefficient. Your system will need to be activated and deactivated more frequently if cold air is leaking from the attic. A professional technician may be needed to repair any air duct leaks to reduce utility bills and increase ac efficiency. A certified technician might also be able help you insulate your ductwork so that cold air doesn't escape as it travels through the system to your home.

8.) Install the Thermostat in a Proper Location

Your air conditioner's efficiency will be directly affected by where it is located. The thermostat should be placed in a central part of your house, away from heat from sunlight or appliances. A thermostat should not be installed near any appliances, such as television sets, furnaces, lamps, and stereos. The thermostat will sense heat from these appliances and will cause the air conditioner's cooling cycle to be longer.