In summer the air conditioning becomes one of our best friends. But he is a friend who tends to be expensive since it supposes an extra expense in the electricity bill. We can’t prevent that outlay, but we can give you some guidelines that are less. These are the mistakes you could be making that make you spend more when using the air conditioning:
1. LOWER THE TEMPERATURE TOO MUCH.
As a rule, the colder you put it, the more you will spend. Something that is not necessary because with less contrast of temperatures and leaving a little more time to the appliance you will get an adequate temperature and without getting cold. And it will be better for your health!
According to the OCU, a temperature of between 24 and 26º C is sufficient to combat the effects of heat, without excessive energy costs. It is enough to select 5º C below the outside temperature to obtain a sensation of freshness.
2. START AND FORCE THE MACHINE.
We arrived heated from the outside and we can not think of anything else to turn the air conditioning to 17 degrees so that the house cools down as soon as possible. Error! Even if you spend the day outside, it will be cheaper to have the air turned on at a high and pleasant temperature that will prevent the house from overheating than to turn it on at full speed when you arrive. This will keep the environment at a comfortable temperature and you will not have to force the engine. Although if your device allows it, the best thing is to always program it.
3. DO NOT UNDERGO MAINTENANCE.
At least once a year, your air conditioner must undergo maintenance to ensure proper operation. Ideally, call a professional before the hottest season begins to check your device. The state of the coolant is what they will look at first, also that there are no leaks or defects that can alter its operation.
4. FORGET TO CLEAN THE FILTERS.
When you use the appliance daily you should clean its filters once a month. To do this you will have to lift the front screen, remove them, and remove dust from inside the device.
When cleaning the filters, the OCU recommends vacuuming them or washing them with cold water. Never with hot water, as it could shrink or deform them. N or do with flammable products such as benzene. After washing them, let them dry in the shade and do not put them back until they are completely dry.
A trick to find out if the filters are dirty is to shake them on a blank sheet of paper. If dust falls, it is time to clean them.
5. PUT THINGS IN FRONT OF THE AIR CONDITIONING.
If your split is placed in a window, try that the curtains do not go over it or that the blinds block the air outlet. If the air encounters ‘obstacles’, it will not cool properly and, also, it will work harder or obtain the appropriate temperature. And the same goes for the outdoor unit.
6. COOL EMPTY ROOMS.
Just as air shouldn’t be on when you’re not at home, it shouldn’t refrigerate empty rooms. It is an unnecessary energy expense. The same as leaving the air on all night. From the OCU they recommend that when you go to bed you use the sleep or night mode, which automatically turns off the equipment after six hours of operation.
7. DO NOT PROGRAM THE AIR.
Concerning the previous point, you must take advantage of all the features of your air conditioning and the most interesting to reduce consumption is to program. With it, you can turn on, off, and change the temperature of your air conditioner. The same thing you do in winter with heating, so as not to get to a cold house like an iceberg, you can do it with air conditioning for just the opposite. Also, many devices can be controlled remotely from your mobile or another device, so you have no excuse.
8. FORGET ABOUT THE FANS.
Even if you have air conditioning at home, fans are still a great help during the summer months. Not only to help you distribute the cold air throughout the house, but you can also use them in those moments when it is not so hot and with a fan, the temperature at home is more than pleasant.
In most homes, air conditioning tends to be abused, and sometimes a fan is more than enough to ensure thermal comfort. In addition to much cheaper at the consumption level.
9. DO NOT REGULATE THE HEAT INPUT.
Small gestures and habits can make your house ‘warm’ less and your air conditioning can work at a higher temperature and, therefore, less forced and with lower consumption. So it is important that you do not leave doors and windows open and that you regulate the entrance of light, especially in the hottest hours. Keep in mind that if your windows are facing west or southwest, you are receiving more heat than light. That is why you must lower blinds and draw curtains in the hours of most heatstroke.
10. HAVE POOR INSULATION.
For the OCU, insulation is key so that your air conditioning does not consume more than necessary, since if your house is not well insulated, the cold air escapes you. So you should check that the doors and windows of the room are closed while the appliance is working and that they are perfectly insulated. Sometimes simple weatherstripping can prevent these leaks and facilitate cooling.
11. MISPLACING THE AIR CONDITIONER.
Air conditioners should always be in a high place in the room, better if they are centered so that the air is distributed evenly. They should never be near sources of heat such as stoves, kitchen, or fireplace. It is very important that the cold airflow is not directed towards people, so it is not recommended to place them in front of sofas, armchairs, or the bed. And also take aesthetics into account.
Leave a Reply