Tips for top performance from your air conditioner

You’ve probably moved from talking about how high your heating bills were this past winter to shuddering at the thought of what your air conditioning bills will be like with these high temperatures coming this summer.

Don’t despair, there are some things you can do to not only keep that air conditioner or swamp cooler running well all summer, but even cut your bill a bit in the process.

If you happen to have a swamp cooler, its a good idea to check the pads on all three sides to ensure they are still in good condition. Our hard water can cause calcium build-up on the pads that can decrease the cooler’s efficiency, so you may want to think about changing the pads before starting things up.

You can find new foam pads for sale, but most manufacturers recommend the fiber pads for the most efficient absorption of water for cooling.

If you’ve decided your pads can go one more season, a good tip is to spray them down with vinegar or chlorine bleach before starting the unit to eliminate that musty smell that generally accompanies the first few days of use.

Check that all of your connections are tight and not leaking or dripping water. Tight connections keep the water running into your unit rather than on the ground, saving you some green.

Speaking of leaks, turn your water on and walk your water line to look for any splits in the tubing or areas where it may be spraying water out. Even a pin-sized hole can spray a lot of water out on the ground during the day. If you find any leaks, replace the tubing.

With a whole-house AC unit, make sure there is plenty of space around it and that any debris that may have been blown into the area over the winter is cleaned up.

Also be sure to change the filter. Whole-house units run through your heating system, so the filter needs changed during the summer months just as you do during the winter months.

If you have a programmable thermostat figure out the times you will be home and when you will be out, say, for work, and set it accordingly. Program it to shut off when you leave for work and turn back on an hour before you get home to cool things back down.

Programmable thermostats used to be pretty pricey, but now you can pick them up relatively cheaply and can literally pay for themselves within a few months and they’re easy to install on your own.

Where you set the temperature on your thermostat is another thing to consider. If you set it too low the entire system can freeze over, stopping you from getting any cool air at all for a few hours while it defrosts.

Experts suggest between 72 and 75 degrees for optimal performance. However, if you are having company over or a large group of people, knocking it down to 65 to 68 degrees will make you and your guests more comfortable.

We all love that natural sunlight streaming through our windows, but we also know the sun coming through that glass will heat up a room in no time. Consider pulling your drapes or closing your curtains to keep the inside temperature down.

If you close your curtains, you will find your AC unit turns on less frequently, saving you money.