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Summertime means a fun time for everybody because it is the ideal time for sunbathing at the beaches and a lot of other fun activities. Unfortunately, the season comes with a lot of heat, too, which can make the season quite unpleasant, especially if you are not well-prepared for it.
Cold beers off the ice bucket are not the only way to deal with the situation. If you live anywhere in Australia, you probably have an air conditioner in your home to handle the sweltering heat during summer. Unfortunately, many people forget to prepare themselves and their air cons for heat during this period.
If you want to enjoy life as you should during summer in Australia, you need to prepare. In this article, we will look at some ways you can prepare your air conditioner in readiness for the Australian summer.
Can Air Conditioners Run Efficiently in Summer?
Some people believe they should minimise or refrain from using their air conditioners during the hot summer months in Australia. There is no need to put yourself through a lot of discomfort because of the fear of an expensive air conditioner running cost. Instead, learn about summer air conditioning preparation in Australia.
Turning your air conditioning system on and believing it is all you need to do will not yield good results. In fact, if anything, it can leave you frustrated because you may soon realise that the air conditioning system is too expensive to maintain. You can use some tricks to reduce the cost of using an air conditioner. The following are some tips that can help you use your air conditioner economically:
Check the energy rating
The first recommendation for you has nothing to do with how you run your air conditioner. It would be best if you did this before you even made the purchase. Check the product's description to confirm the energy rating. The energy rating indicates qualified professionals' observations on how little power a machine needs to cool a room.
Most people believe that the energy rating is a scale showing how eco-friendly a product is, but this is far from true. An air conditioner with good energy efficiency will need little power or money to run. You can expect that the greater the energy rating, the more money you can save.
Find the right size of air conditioner for your space
A small-sized air conditioner does not necessarily make it energy-efficient, and neither does it mean you will spend less money on power consumption.
For example, a 2.5kW wall-mounted air conditioner will not always use less power compared to the energy consumption of a 5kW wall-mounted air conditioner.
If your room is spacious, the 2.5kW air conditioner will need to do more work and use lots of energy to cool it. However, the 5kW air conditioner will cool the room efficiently even when adjusted to a low power setting, using less energy.
Cool down your space before it becomes hot
It will need less energy to maintain the temperature of your room than what would be necessary to cool it down. An air conditioner cooling down a hot room will be placed under significant stress.
If you lower or maintain the temperature in your room, your air conditioner will work under less stress and cost you less money to run. The best temperature for air conditioners to run is constant, which is also how money can be saved.
Switch on your air conditioner early and allow it to run at the same temperature throughout the day. You may be surprised to learn that it is more efficient when you leave your air conditioning running at a reasonable temperature throughout the day than it is when you switch it on for short blasts.
Reduce the cooling space
No matter the type of air conditioner you use, there is a limit to the volume of space it can efficiently cool or heat, in case you are using a reverse cycle air conditioner. You will only make this space bigger when you open doors to adjoining rooms.
There is heat in these rooms; when released, hot air will replace the cold air in the room the air conditioner is meant to cool.
When you have found and set the optimal air conditioning temperature, you need to close the doors to the neighbouring rooms once you start using the air conditioning system.
Service your air conditioning unit regularly
A regular servicing routine is necessary to keep your air conditioning system running correctly. As with any mechanical device, your air conditioner has mechanical parts that move against each other and wear out over time.
Dust and debris can also clog up the air intake pathway of your air conditioner. If this happens, double the power required by your air conditioner to run at the best temperature will be needed to run during summer. If your AC is serviced regularly, it will need less power to run and be less likely to disappoint you when needed.
Insulate your home properly
If you insulate your home correctly, there will be less chance for heat to get in or go out. In this case, there would be less need for gas heating during the cold winter months and less demand for your air conditioner during the hot summer months.
During summer, draw your window blinds as soon as sunlight streams into your room. You can also use reflective technologies on your house's roof and insulation in the walls and the roof.
Doing all these can effectively reduce the stress on your air conditioner.
The most efficient temperature for your air conditioner will depend on the temperature in your room. With proper insulation, the most efficient temperature will be less strenuous on your air conditioning system.
Find the optimal temperature level
Each system or house in Australia has a different optimum air conditioner temperature. As a general rule of thumb, the most efficient temperatures are found between 24°C to 25°C. Follow the user guide or talk to an air conditioning professional to learn more about the best temperature for your air conditioner.
Check for water leaks
A common cause of air conditioner breakdown is water leaks. During the humid months, condensation may occur around the air conditioner vents, leading to terrible water strains. Whenever you use your air conditioner, it can tremendously help to keep the doors and windows shut tightly and keep the thermostat set to an achievable temperature, such as 24 degrees Celsius, which was recommended.
Cleaning the filters and coils and maintaining proper room ventilation can help. When you clean your filters, the indoor air quality will be improved. The cleaning frequency will depend on how often you run your air conditioner, but a cleaning exercise every month or two has been noted to be optimal.
If the water leaking continues, you should call on an air conditioning service technician immediately.
Seek Advice from an HVAC Service Expert
Whether using ducted air conditioning or split systems, you should understand that they all need proper checking before summer. There are a few steps you can take yourself in preparation for the hot months in summer, but for complete peace of mind, you should speak to a professional HVAC service.
They typically service your air conditioning unit once a year, which is recommended. During routine servicing, they will check gas levels, clean or replace filters, and confirm if the cooling functions are working optimally.
