Shade and More Shade
The more shade your home has the better. This is because it means your air conditioner does not have to work as hard. Some ways to reduce the heat from the sun coming into your home include closing blinds and curtains on hot days.
This is particularly true for windows that face the North or West direction. In particular light coloured blinds or curtains with a light coloured backing work the best. Even tinting your windows will help to reduce the heat in your home
Other ways to reduce the heat is to plant trees, shrubs or vines. Deciduous ones are best for Melbourne. This is because they will allow the sun in during winter.
If at all possible, you should also have condenser unit to your split system air conditioner in a shady spot. This may help to reduce your electricity by up to 10%.
Replace your Air Filters
No matter what type of air conditioner you have you need to make sure your air filters are kept clean. Split system air conditioners, evaporative cooling systems and ducted refrigerated air conditioners all have filters.
In fact, checking the air filters is one of the most important items on our checklist This is because it is a common cause of poorly performing air conditioners.
We firstly try to clean the filters. If they are too dirty to be effectively cleaned we will replace them. Dirty filters make air conditioners work hard. This results in a higher electricity bill.
If you have pets you probably should replace your air filters for your air conditioner more frequently.
Programmable Thermostats
By having a programmable thermostat for your air conditioner electricity bill will be reduced. It means you can adjust the temperature for when you are asleep. Even better is to have the air conditioner switched off. However, there are some Melbourne summer nights where you really need the air conditioning on because of the heat.
You can now even have an app on your phone so you can get your home nice and cool before you get there!
It is estimated that you can save up to 10% on your air conditioning electricity costs by having a programmable thermostat.
Get your Air Conditioner Serviced
You should always get your air conditioner serviced on a regular basis. In fact you should always get it serviced just before the Melbourne's summer starts to hot up. That way you won't be left waiting in the heat for someone to come and repair your air conditioner.
By getting your air conditioner serviced you will increase the lifespan of your air conditioner. Even more importantly, you will improve the air quality in your home when the air conditioner is switched on. This is great if you or someone in your family has allergies.
Only Cool the Rooms you are Using
No matter what type of air conditioner you have, you need to make sure that you only cool the rooms you are using. For example, you normally do not need to cool bedrooms during the day. Similarly, you do not have to cool living areas at night.
If you have a split system air conditioner this is as easy as only switching on the unit in the rooms you are using. For evaporative cooling and ducted refrigerated air conditioners you should make sure, if you have a large home, that it is zoned. That is the only way to make sure you are not cooling your entire home whenever you switch on your air conditioner
