Air Conditioning Tips
As a homeowner, you have a lot of decisions to make that impact your entire household. Choosing a new or replacement air conditioner affects both your comfort and your budget, and shouldn’t be taken lightly. That’s why we’ve put together a few helpful tips to help you find the right air conditioner for your home, and reduce your energy use to avoid overpaying on monthly utilities.
MEASURING YOUR NEW AC SYSTEM
Air conditioning manufacturers use BTUs (British Thermal Units) to measure how much energy per hour an air conditioner will consume to remove heat from a space. Generally speaking, a standard unit will use 20 BTUs per square foot. To estimate the number of BTUs needed to cool your home, you can start by multiplying the total square footage of your home by 20. For best results, contact your local air conditioning company to accurately size and install your air conditioner.
Why do BTUs Matter?
When an air conditioner has too few or too many BTUs for the square footage of the space it is trying to cool, the unit will not operate effectively and you’ll end up living in a hot, sticky indoor climate. An AC unit that is too big will turn on and off more frequently, and run for shorter intervals. A system that is too small will run longer (and may not turn off). In both situations, the air conditioner will be unable to remove enough hot air from the room to keep it cool. Your system will be at risk for excessive energy waste and potential damage caused by constant or lengthy cycling.
MAINTAINING YOUR AIR CONDITIONER
New or old, all air conditioners require consistent maintenance. During preventative service, a trained technician can detect hazardous wear and tear, clean up dirt and debris that builds up within the system, check refrigerant levels and more. All of these steps ensure the energy efficiency, safety and longevity of the unit. M and M Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical offers comprehensive AC maintenance throughout Longmont, Dacono, Eric, Firestone, Frederick, Johnstown, Longmont, Mead, CO.
SIMPLE WAYS TO REDUCE ENERGY USE DURING THE SUMMER
Looking for more ways to reduce your energy consumption this summer? Try out these three tips:
- A lower temperature will not cool a room faster. The Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78 degrees.
- While your air conditioner is running, use other major appliances less frequently or not at all.
- Keep doors and windows that receive direct sunlight in the shade with blinds and awnings.