With summer all set to begin in full swing, air conditioner usage is bound to increase. According to Live Mint, India’s rise in air conditioner consumption is going to contribute immensely to the spike in global temperature – with the market in India alone expected to explode from 30 million to a billion units by 2050. Staying cool certainly comes at a price, and there are ways to maximize your unit’s performance and ensure the by-products of this comfort don’t wear you down health-wise and economically.
Humidity Check
The power consumed by your air conditioner depends on two key factors – outside temperature and relative humidity. On a humid day, lowering your temperature is not going to do the trick. Instead, switch to “Dry Mode” – a setting that is energy efficient at extracting humidity from the room, when conditions are humid but not too hot. Not only is switching to “Dry Mode” cheaper, but it is also a more efficient way to drive out the humidity from the room, as it condenses water vapor while the AC blows out the dry air through the appliance.
Sleep and Save
Temperatures in the evening are lower than during the day. Utilizing this to your advantage, you should turn off the air conditioning after it has done its job during the day. In sleep, your body has the capacity to tolerate higher temperatures (up to 3-degree Celsius warmer) than when awake. Moreover, leaving your AC unit idle as temperatures fall during the night helps to prevent freezing up in the morning.
Your Biggest ‘Fan’
The combination of a higher temperature setting and your fan is going to considerably reduce the load on your AC and cool every crevice of your home efficiently. Here are the findings of a recent study conducted: by blowing air downwards, and moving it around us, your ceiling fan boosts your AC’s performance by almost 20%, and reduces costs by 15.6%.
Utilize the shade
A comfortable indoor environment can also be created by shading your living space from the indoors, too. Draw the blinds to keep the sun from making the room warmer and consider hanging heavier curtains to block the rays. Keeping the hot air out, this reduces the pressure on your air conditioner to maintain the optimum temperature. A portable air conditioner can help maximize the overall cooling, but using the furniture around your house to make conditions pleasant is always wise.
The Magic Of Maintenance
There’s nothing worse than the sound of a ragged AC barely pumping cool air into the room. Constantly checking on the health of your unit and getting some systems in place to ensure the performance doesn’t drop, as listed below, can go a long way:
- Get a programmable thermostat that allows you to set temperatures during the day.
- Conduct a thorough filter-check and clean it in case of any dirt build-up. A clogged filtration system is going to adversely affect its performance.
- Control the heat build-up using windows and ventilation to your advantage.
- Knowing when it’s time to say goodbye to your old unit. An old unit will drain power while hiking up your electricity expenses.