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How to Make an Air Conditioner More Efficient

Written By:

Lawrence Bonk
Updated April 12, 2022

If you are looking to get cool and stay cool this summer, you may wonder how to make an air conditioner more efficient. Even the best air conditioners, after all, can benefit from some efficiency-enhancing protocols to keep your energy bills down. So what tips can you incorporate into your AC use to increase efficiency? Keep reading to find out.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Increasing the efficiency of your air conditioning unit is crucial for keeping comfortable and for reducing utility bills.
  • Start by changing out or cleaning any air filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions to improve the airflow of central air conditioners and window units.
  • You can also run the AC on a set and strict schedule and spend some time beefing up your home’s insulation, avoiding direct sunlight if possible.

Making an AC More Efficient

Aside from learning how to make a solar-powered air conditioner, your AC unit is going to cost you when you use it. However, there are a few common-sense ways to cut down on these costs by increasing overall efficiency.

Insider Tip

Buying a new air conditioner can also help improve efficiency, as modern units are generally thought to be more efficient.

Replace or Clean the Filters

  1. One of the best and easiest ways to increase your AC unit’s efficiency is to replace or clean the air filters.
  2. For washable air filters, follow the instructions to get them cleaned and then replace them back into the AC.
  3. For replaceable filters, purchase a properly fitting model. Consult your air conditioner’s instructions for a list of integrable filters.
  4. Replace or clean air filters every one to three months for best results.

Don’t Use the AC as Much

  1. A simple, yet occasionally painful, way to increase efficiency is to simply refrain from using the AC unit, saving it for especially hot days.
  2. Learn how to mimic an air conditioner with a fan or open up the windows to increase airflow.
  3. Of course, if you are having trouble getting comfortable, don’t hesitate to turn on the AC. Instead, practice turning it on and off as needed.

Look to Insulation

  1. Improve your home’s insulation to make your AC more efficient.
  2. Start by covering windows with thick blankets or drapes and by making sure there are no obvious cracks leading to the outside.
  3. Add an insulating layer to any doors that lead outside and try to keep doors and windows shut when the AC is not being used.

Contain the Cool Air

  1. If you have a portable or window air conditioner, contain the cool air to centralize it into a single room or set of rooms.
  2. Get this done by shutting all doors leading to these rooms, and don’t forget about windows.
  3. Avoid using appliances that create heat in this space. This includes ovens, dryers, and even irons.

F.A.Q.S

How to make air conditioning less of an environmental nightmare?

Invest in a programmable thermostat and related air conditioner efficiencies to lower the ecological costs of using one of these appliances. As an added bonus, your energy costs will go down.

Is your A/C leaking water?

If your air conditioner is leaking water, you could have dirty filters, or your heat pump or related component could be damaged. You could also just have a leak, which is common with outdoor units.

Is shading your air conditioner worth it?

To keep your house cool, many believe in shading the outdoor condenser, meaning providing amply shade around the device. This is helpful if you can do it on the cheap.

STAT: Central air conditioners circulate cool air through a system of supply and return ducts. Supply ducts and registers (i.e., openings in the walls, floors, or ceilings covered by grills) carry cooled air from the air conditioner to the home. (source)

Lawrence Bonk
Lawrence Bonk is a copywriter with a decade of experience in the tech space, with columns appearing in Engadget, Huffington Post and CBS, among others. He has a cat named Cinnamon.