It is essential to reduce energy consumption and prevent wastage of energy. One of the most energy-consuming appliances at your home is your air conditioner. Therefore you must consult skilled HVAC designer to design efficient HVAC system for your home according to specific requirements
Why does an AC require maintenance?
The need for maintenance is important because a lack of proper care can cause issues regarding efficiency. For example, if the AC is low on refrigerant- the ac will run for longer intervals due to the phase change happening slower. If the AC is dirty or dusty and the coils for example are blocked up with dust, the AC must work harder and longer to cool the coolant down inside and will be less efficient as the coolant is running through the system warmer than it should be.
A clean, topped-up AC that is regularly maintained will mean that the AC does not have to work as hard or as long as it needs to regulate the temperature. This will make sure that no extra energy is consumed for the unit to function efficiently.
Benefits of AC Maintenance
- Improved Air Flow: The airflow determines the cooling rate of your house. The sooner it reaches the desired temperature, the faster it will shut down. If an air conditioner runs for a longer time resulting in overloading the system it consumes more power. Regular maintenance makes sure that there is no overload in the system.
- Fewer Repairs: If you are focusing on the maintenance of your air conditioner on a regular basis then it is functioning on a higher efficiency level. This indicates that it is in better condition and will need less repair work overtime. It will also ensure that it has a longer lifespan due to its better performance and proper maintenance.
- Helps to cut energy costs: Keeping the air conditioner in good condition will ultimately save you money. If the air conditioner is not in optimal condition, it will consume more energy and electricity than needed, which is reflected in your space energy bill at the end of each month. Regular investment in air conditioning maintenance makes sure that no extra unit of energy is consumed and that helps in lowering the electricity bills.
- Helps the environment: We always talk about contributing to the environment but many times, we fail to do it by unseeing and not making little changes that are necessary.
Every time you turn on the air conditioner, you are consuming electricity, which actually consumes the environmental resources on which we depend. If your air conditioner does not work fully and efficiently, its usage may exceed average. Therefore, it is important to stay vigilant to achieve the highest energy efficiency by properly maintaining your air conditioner. This is not only good for you but also good for the environment.
Few guidelines to follow for proper maintenance of your air conditioner:
- Always read the appliance manual as it contains information about different modes and settings. Sometimes, you may change the setting and not be able to revert it back to the original setting which will cause problems.
- Clean the filters once every 30 days to prevent the dirt and dust particles to stick to the filter.
- Do not twist or scrub the filters when cleaning them. It can cause damage.
- While using the air conditioner, make sure your doors and windows are closed. Sometimes due to the rush one may forget to close a window and that puts an extra load on the air conditioner affecting its efficiency.
- Do not set the thermostat at maximum for a longer period of time. It will cause damage to the unit.
- Clean your vents to make sure the cool air coming from the air conditioning unit is unobstructed.
- Once in a while, let an AC mechanic have a look to make sure it is functioning properly.
Can the wasted energy from the AC Unit be reused?
There are ways to piggyback off the wasted heat energy from an AC using a system like a heat exchanger which would have pipes running around the exhaust, if the ac has one, that would allow liquid in the tubes to heat up and run elsewhere like a pool. Sort of like a symbiotic relationship, cold pool water cools exhaust while the hot exhaust warms liquid.
Wrap Up
AC maintenance is important. As seen above, we know why it is important and a few guidelines to follow to make sure the AC unit functions properly. Schedule regular checks to track minor problems and fix them and rest assured that your unit will not fail.
If your unit is too old and causing various problems even after proper maintenance and repair, consider replacing it. Also, make sure to get HVAC as it is more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
