How To Efficiently Run Your Air Conditioner This Summer- Sunshine Coast

How To Efficiently Run Your Air Conditioner

Summer-time means beaches, backyard bbq’s, and really, really hot summer afternoons. Cold beers off the ice aren’t the only way to cool-off, and they certainly aren’t the most health conscious (though probably the most fun). Don’t bring the summer heat inside! If you live on the Sunshine Coast, and you have air conditioning, you definitely need to know how to run it optimally this summer to save on your energy bills.

Don’t discomfort yourself because of an expensive air conditioner running cost. What you need to do is learn what the best temperature for air conditioning is for summer in The Sunshine Coast and ways you can efficiently run your air conditioner. You might think that you just turn your air conditioning on when it gets too hot to bare, and be done with it from there. However, there are definitely tricks you can use to reduce your cost and maximise your cooling. Here’s how to use an air conditioner economically.

Cool Down Your Space Before It Gets Hot

It is far easier to maintain the temperature of a room than it is to cool it down. An air conditioner trying to cool a hot room will be under significant stress. If you maintain a constant temperature with your air conditioner, before it gets hot, at less extreme temperatures, it will be under less stress and cost you less money. The best temperature for an AC to save money is a constant temperature.

Start your air conditioner early and keep it at the same temperature throughout the day! It is more efficient to leave the air conditioning on all day at a reasonable temperature than it is to put it on for short blasts!

Reduce Heat Transfer Between Rooms and Make Your Cooling Space as Small as Possible

When you start your air conditioner, the space in which it can cool is limited. There is no need to make that space bigger by having the doors to other rooms you’re not using open. These rooms will have their own heat, and will warm up the area which the aircon can successfully cool, putting stress on the system.

Set  the optimal air conditioning temperature then close the doors to surrounding rooms when you are using the system so it can work the best.

You Service Your Car Regularly So It Runs Well. Do The Same For Your Air Conditioner!

Servicing your air conditioner is just as important as servicing your car. It needs to be done and cannot be skipped. Your air conditioner has moving mechanical parts that wear down over time. The air intake of your air conditioner can become clogged with dust and debris. If this happens, it will take double the power for your air conditioner to run at the best temperature for your air conditioner in summer.

Getting your air conditioner serviced regularly means it will run on less power and will be less likely to break on you.

Don’t Let The Summer Heat Into Your Home. Use Insulation!

Needless to say, prevention is better than cure. Insulate your house so the heat doesn’t come in to begin with. Make sure you draw the curtains or blinds when the sun starts coming in, use reflective technologies on roofs, and actually use insulation in your roof and walls. This will reduce the stress on your air conditioner significantly.

The most efficient temperature for air conditioning depends on the temperature of the room. Insulation will mean the most efficient temperature becomes less strenuous on your system.

Roughly What Temperature is Efficient?

Each system and each house will have a different optimum air conditioner temperature in Australia. However, according to Daikin, as a general rule of thumb, people tend to go for 22 to 23, with the most efficient temperatures being around 24 to 25.

When trying to find the best temperature for your air conditioner, you should look through your user guide.

Use Your Air Conditioner On Dry Mode!

In Australia, humidity levels can constantly change, leaving us sweaty and miserable. Our first reaction is usually to turn on our air conditioner’s “cool” setting, assuming it’s the most appropriate way to cool us down.

But it’s not your only option. All units have different settings, and using the right one at the right time can increase its efficiency, save money on your electricity bills, and guarantee a comfortable home environment all year round.

If humidity levels are high and the temperature isn’t too hot, dry mode in AC is an ideal solution in both ducted and reverse cycle air conditioners. Here’s why.

What is dry mode?

The “dry” mode setting on an air conditioning unit is often confused with “cool” mode. When it comes to their effect on temperature, they don’t feel notably different, but they are distinctive in terms of their function. The cool mode is usually represented as a snowflake icon on a unit’s remote, and the dry mode as a water drop. It can be activated with a single touch of a button or in many modern systems through home automation and smart devices.

How does it work?

Just as the temperature changes from season to season, so does the humidity. Your unit’s various air conditioning modes are there for a reason—they cater for a range of weather conditions, whether hot, cold, humid, and dry. Essentially, the purpose of the “dry” function mode is to reduce the excess humidity or moisture in the air, and the cooling effect comes from the removal of that excess moisture.

It works similarly to the cooling mode, but detects temperature differently. So what’s the difference between cool vs. dry mode in AC? In cooling mode, your air conditioner will cool the room and regulate according to the air temperature, returning the air back into the indoor unit. When the system approaches the set temperature, the compressor speed and cooling capacity reduce and it will turn off.

When you switch your air conditioner to dry mode, the unit will record the room temperature and decide what temperature it will cycle off. It then considers and regulates the room/return air temperature and the cooling coil/ heat exchanger temperatures. Fan and compressor speeds will be controlled to maintain the desired temperature differences between the return air and the cooling coil temperature, thereby controlling the humidity of the air being supplied. Essentially, this means the fan inside the unit will still run, but it won’t be blowing out any cool air. It doesn’t replace a dehumidifier as it won’t eliminate all moisture from the room, but keeps it at a comfortable level.

It’s also important to note that the dry mode shouldn’t be used to remove the humidity from the room completely. This is because excess dry air can be just as uncomfortable as a too-humid room! Most air conditioning professionals recommend that units should only run in dry mode for one to two hours at most.

When should I use it?

Humidity, or the amount of moisture in the air feels like an increase in temperature, and when both are present, it can feel irritating and uncomfortable. High levels of humidity can act as an “amplifier” and is one of the reasons that weather forecasts include a “feels like” measure.

Dry mode is ideal when the conditions are humid and “sticky” and temperatures are not too hot, for example, on days when the weather has a tropical feel, and it’s been raining or about to rain. However, this mode won’t perform well on hot summer days — switch to cooling mode at these times. It can also be used in winter, depending on your location’s weather forecast. For example, if it is a cold day and pouring rain outside, you’ll probably be heating your home. The dry mode in this instance will help regulate conditions to a comfortable level.

The recommended range of humidity for indoor environments is between 30 and 50% relative humidity. This refers to the amount of water vapour in the air compared to the maximum amount it could hold at any given temperature.

What are the benefits?

There are many benefits to removing excess moisture and maintaining proper humidity control in your indoor environment, from your family’s health to ensuring a comfortable environment. When used effectively and in the right conditions, dry mode can achieve the following:

A more efficient system

Using your unit’s cool mode consistently in warmer weather isn’t energy efficient — you should only use it during hot and humid seasons — so switch to dry mode when it’s just humid. When using the dry mode, your air conditioner’s compressor runs at a slower pace, so less energy is required. Using it more regularly will reduce your energy costs, and be better for the environment as it will lower your home’s carbon footprint.

A healthier environment

The dehumidification process that occurs in dry mode keeps indoor air at an optimum humidity level, which can improve air quality, and decrease the sweatiness, clamminess and tiredness often associated with high humidity levels. It can also help alleviate common allergy and asthma triggers like mould, mildew and dust mites, which thrive in an excessively humid environment. High humidity can aggravate these symptoms and can even make a usually healthy person ill. Common reactions include a stuffy nose, sneezing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, itchy eyes, skin rashes, reduced resistance to infections, respiratory allergies and a diminished immune system.

A better-protected home

High humidity levels can also cause excessive moisture (and therefore mould and mildew) to develop over time, which often leads to those dreaded “musty odours”. It can appear on furniture, curtains, clothing, towels and bed linen. Mould spores are more likely to grow on walls or in high-humidity areas like showers and bathtubs, water stains may appear on your ceilings or walls, and you may see frequent condensation on the windows. It can also lead to rust or corrosion on tools, home appliances and electronic devices.

So, now you know how to use your air conditioning system efficiently and effectively this summer. Don’t be an aircon NOOB, enjoy the benefits of air conditioning comfort in your home the smart way.

If you don’t have air conditioning, or need to upgrade to a more energy efficient model, then give us call or request a quote.