AC Efficiency

Air conditioner efficiency is very important when it comes to cooling your home. Especially here in South Florida, when air conditioners are utilized all year round, efficiency of your unit helps the environment by reducing the usage of fossil fuels and energy while also reducing air conditioner yearly operating costs. Savings in your wallet and the environment at the same time are both goals we at Cousin's Air, Inc. strives for when servicing your air conditioner. There are two main types of air conditioners: room AC and central AC. Room or window units are not as efficient as central air conditioners that cool the whole home all at once.

Ensuring Efficiency when Purchasing a New Air Conditioner

When purchasing a new air conditioner, there are several factors to consider besides the cost of the AC unit and installation. You should consider efficiency since that will save you money in the long run. Some things to think about when purchasing a new air conditioner is the SEER rating, which measures efficiency of that particular air conditioner model and rates it based on the energy usage. SEER ratings are governed by United States law and are regulated by the Department of Energy. All new air conditioners must have a SEER rating of at least 13. Several new models have higher ratings and some are rated with even higher efficiency levels and are part of the Energy Star Program. Other things to consider when purchasing a new air conditioner with efficiency in mind are making sure that it is properly installed and that it is the right size unit for your home. An over-sized air conditioner can cost more money and it will not efficiently cool off your home. It can also fail to remove humidity from your home during processing. An air conditioner that is too small for your home will not be efficient and will end up costing more money in the long run because it will have to work so hard to try to cool down your home and probably won’t ever get cool enough.

Cousin's Air, Inc.'s 7 Tips for Air Conditioner Efficiency

1. Clean or replace your air filters at least once a month. Dirty air filters make your air conditioner work harder to cool off your home. Keeping the air filters clean saves you money on your air conditioner yearly operating costs, reduces the energy expelled by your air conditioner unit, removes allergens and dust particles from the air, and can extend the life of your AC.
2. Schedule regular maintenance on your air conditioner. Regular maintenance can help ensure that your AC system is working properly and at its highest level of efficiency. It can also alert you to potential problems with the parts or mechanics of the AC and prevent a problem before it happens. Here are a few different things that we check during routine air conditioner maintenance that can affect the efficiency of your AC unit:
   • We check the drains and coils to make sure they are flowing and not blocked. Blockages can reduce your level of efficiency and cause other problems.
   • During routine maintenance we also check the refrigerant levels because optimal levels can ensure your AC unit is operating efficiently.
   • We check the amperage draw on your compressor and motor to ensure that it is on the right settings for your unit.
3. Install a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats can be set by the clock to turn off or raise the temperature when you are not home and begin cooling off the home just before you are scheduled to come back home. This reduces the usage and also your bill.
4. Insulate your home. Insulation is something that you might hear about when it comes to keeping the cold out, which is not a concern here in South Florida. However, insulation also can keep the heat out and will not make your AC work as hard to keep your home cool.
5. Tint your windows. Along the same lines as insulation, tinting the windows prevents the sun from heating up your home while your AC is working hard to keep it cool.
6. Protect the outside of your air conditioner. Building an air conditioner fence around outside part can prevent animals, leave, branches, and other debris from getting inside. This can improve the efficiency, prevent parts from breaking, and extend the life expectancy of your air conditioner.
7. Reduce Humidity Levels. If you are always feeling hot and uncomfortable even though your thermostat is reading the level you have set, it is probably the humidity. Especially in South Florida with most of our days reaching 80% to 100% humidity levels, you can be feeling the effects of humidity. Your air conditioner does remove humidity from the air in your home, but in some cases it might not be enough. You can consider purchasing a dehumidifier. They help to reduce humidity and also help breathing if anyone in your home has allergies or asthma.