5 Factors that can Affect Air Conditioner Efficiency

If you’re one of our air conditioning customers, especially those of you in the East Bay and down the peninsula, you might be looking for ways to cut back on your energy bills as the weather continues to heat up this summer. Even if you have a high-efficiency air conditioner, there are many different things that can prevent your unit from performing at its peak efficiency. Today we’re going to go over some of those factors and give you some tips for how to improve the efficiency of your air conditioner this summer!

5 factors that can affect the efficiency of your air conditioner

• 1. Lack of maintenance. Just like your car, your air conditioner requires regular maintenance in order to operate smoothly and efficiently year-after-year. Without maintenance, small problems can develop into serious ones and your system’s efficiency can significantly decrease. Make sure you schedule your yearly professional tune-up and follow the air conditioner maintenance tips from our previous blog.
• 2. Poor airflow. If your air conditioner can’t “breathe” properly, your air handler will end up working extra hard and consume a lot of energy. There are a number of things that can lead to poor airflow, including a clogged air filter, blocked condenser unit and problems with your ductwork. To avoid airflow problems, make sure you keep up with your air filter changes, keep the area around your condenser unit clear and have your system inspected by Cabrillo if your energy bills are unusually high.
• 3. Dirty coils. When dirt builds up on your condenser or evaporator coils, it restricts their ability to transfer heat. This makes it difficult to move heat out of your home and will force your air conditioner to work overtime and consume excess energy. Keep your coils clean by getting your annual tune-up (which includes a system cleaning) and staying on top of your air filter changes. Installing a higher-efficiency air filter will also help reduce the amount of dust buildup on your system.
• 4. Duct leaks. If there are cracks, openings or disconnections in your ductwork, two things can happen: conditioned air can leak out of your ducts and unfiltered warm air from your home can seep in. This makes it more difficult to cool your home (which decreases system efficiency) and can also result in more dirt buildup on your system. Cabrillo can inspect your ducts for leaks andprofessionally seal any leaks we find.
• 5. Low thermostat settings. The lower you set your thermostat, the more energy your air conditioner will consume. Try to use reasonable thermostat settings throughout the season and use a programmable thermostat to conserve energy when there is less of a demand for cooling in your home.

If you have any questions about how to improve the efficiency of your air conditioner, or if you’d like a cooling system serviced or installed in your home, contact Cabrillo, your Bay Area plumbing, heating and air conditioning company.