Heating and cooling make up the largest portion of most household energy bills.
And in Texas, cooling costs far outweigh heating costs. That means a high efficiency air conditioner, when properly sized and maintained, can save you a significant amount of money every year.
Many homeowners don’t realize that their old, poorly installed, or incorrectly sized air conditioner is draining energy. Even a newer model can waste money if it’s not set up or running the way it should.
To help you cut cooling costs, here are four signs your air conditioner may not be working efficiently.
Some Quick Efficiency Tips Before We Begin
Sometimes an issue that seems like AC inefficiency is actually caused by something else. Before assuming your air conditioner is the problem, check the following:
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Make sure your air filters are clean and replaced regularly
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Look for leaks in your vents
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Ensure registers and grilles throughout your home are fully open
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Confirm that your home is properly insulated
Even the best air conditioner will struggle in a poorly insulated home.
Now, let’s walk through the signs of an inefficient AC system.
Your Energy Bill Has Skyrocketed
Heating and cooling account for the bulk of your energy costs. If your bill suddenly jumps and it isn’t caused by rate increases or heavier usage, your air conditioner may be to blame. An inefficient unit works harder, runs longer, and uses far more electricity.
Your Air Conditioner Is Cycling Too Often or Too Little
A healthy AC should run in cycles of about 15 minutes, roughly 2 to 3 times per hour.
When an AC is too powerful, it cools the area near the thermostat quickly but doesn’t run long enough to cool the rest of the home. The system shuts off, the cool air dissipates, and then it turns on again. This rapid cycling wastes energy and causes more wear and tear.
An undersized unit has the opposite problem. It must work constantly to try to reach the correct temperature and may not shut off at all. Both situations are inefficient.
Your AC Unit Needs Frequent Repairs
If you’re calling for repairs every year, your system is likely running inefficiently. Every part in your AC plays a role in overall performance, and frequent breakdowns mean the system isn’t operating as smoothly as it should. Even with high quality replacement parts, a unit that needs constant repairs has likely lost much of its efficiency.
Your AC Is Over 10 Years Old
Age plays a major role in efficiency. Over time, wear and tear reduce performance. But efficiency loss isn’t just about aging parts.
HVAC technology has advanced rapidly over the past decade. Modern units use far less energy than older ones, thanks to improvements in engineering and efficiency standards. A 10 year old unit was less efficient the day it was installed and has only declined since.
Upgrading to a new system could cut your cooling costs significantly.
Looking for a new, energy efficient AC unit?
Comfy Air offers professional AC installation and AC repair in San Marcos and the surrounding area.
