Updated January 23, 2024

Central air is a great addition to any home, especially in the heat of summer. Central air provides even cooling throughout your entire home and helps to keep your home’s temperature consistent all season long.

It’s quiet and convenient, and you’ll never have to worry about your home being too hot or too cold, as long as regular maintenance is performed. However, to reap all these benefits, your central air unit must be running efficiently.

Why Your Central Air’s Efficiency Matters

Adjusting your settings and maintaining your system properly are the keys to lowering your home’s energy consumption by 20 percent or more. If your A/C has clogged filters, isn’t set to the right temperature, or isn’t cleaned routinely, it could either break down or run improperly. Additionally, running your central air efficiently helps to improve your indoor air quality, reduce harmful emissions in the atmosphere and lower your home’s energy consumption, while also helping to keep your energy bills from rising!

Tips for Running Your Central Air Efficiently

By following our tips, keeping your home comfortable and your utility bill low is easily achievable.

Maintain the Filters

Cleaning or replacing your air conditioner’s filters will automatically enhance your efficiency by up to 15 percent. They should be cleaned or replaced regularly — it’s a good idea to check with your HVAC professional to get the specific timeline for your unit.

Typically, your filters should be changed every 1-2 months for most systems. Cleaning your unit’s filters with a brush and cloth or vacuuming it with a soft-bristled attachment will help to remove debris and prolong the life of your filter and unit overall.

Clean Your Unit

After you’ve checked your central air system’s filters, you should clean the outside of it completely. Dirt and debris can build up on the outer walls of a central air conditioner and significantly reduce its airflow.

To clean your air conditioner, follow these steps:

1. Turn the power off to the unit
2. Remove any leaves, branches, or other debris in the unit’s condenser fins (the metal mesh on the outside of the A/C).
3. Carefully remove the grill from the top of the A/C and vacuum around the motor to remove any internal dust.
4. Wipe down your unit’s fan blades with a damp cloth.

An alternative to cleaning your air conditioner yourself is to schedule a maintenance appointment with Golden Rule. We’ll be sure to have your A/C looking brand new and operating properly!

Set the Right Temperature

You may argue with your family members over the best temperature for your home, but we’re here to set the record and your thermostat straight. The ideal temperature for a central air conditioner is around 78° Fahrenheit. Every degree that you raise your thermostat above 78° will save you about 10 percent in cooling costs.

If your family members want to isolate the temperature in their respective rooms, you may want to look into a zoned system for your home.

Use a Programmable Thermostat

This one goes hand-in-hand with selecting the correct temperature for your air conditioner to run efficiently. Switching your thermostat from the “On” to “Auto” settings makes a big impact, and you can get even more specific with the times you want your air conditioner to run.

You don’t need to cool your entire home while you’re not there — this wastes energy and is one of the biggest reasons energy bills skyrocket in the summer.

A programmable thermostat is a small investment in comparison to how much money you will save on your summer utility bills.

So, how does it work? Your programmable thermostat works with your central air system to set the right times of day for cooling your home. You can set your preferred temperature and mode settings; by the time you are home from work, your thermostat will begin cooling and leave you with a cool, comfortable home before you even step foot in the door.

Some programmable thermostats are equipped with WiFi capabilities, which allows you to control your thermostat remotely, in case you want to view your settings and change them on the go.

Schedule Professional Maintenance Every Year

Like your car, a central air conditioner is a big investment, and they aren’t meant to last forever. With proper maintenance, you can prolong the life of your HVAC unit and ensure that it’s running efficiently. Scheduling a maintenance appointment annually will help reduce the possibility of a system breakdown, and a hefty price to pay if you need a replacement.

Having your central air maintained is more convenient than taking your car to the shop because your HVAC professional will come to you!

Here are some of the things the Golden Rule will look out for upon your maintenance appointment:

• Inspection of your air ducts, and cleaning service if needed.
• Recommend a replacement if your air conditioner is not running properly, is the wrong size, or if is broken beyond repair.
• Check your air conditioner’s fuses and replace them if necessary to ensure any problems with your unit.

At Golden Rule, we provide our customers with only the best maintenance and repair work for their central unit systems. Need to schedule an appointment? Contact us today

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