Heating and cooling are the highest contributors to the energy bills of the average household. And here in Texas, there’s a lot more cooling than heating being done. That means if you have a high-efficiency air conditioner that’s well maintained, you can save a lot of money on cooling every year.  Many homeowners don’t realize that their old, poorly installed, or improperly sized air conditioner is not running efficiently. In these circumstances, even a newer model won’t be saving you as much money as it could.  We want to help you save energy – so we’re going to go over 4 signs that your air conditioner isn’t pulling its weight.

Some quick efficiency tips before we begin

Your air conditioner might be running as efficiently as possible – many of the signs of inefficiency we’re going to discuss can be symptoms of other problems. Before pointing your finger at the air conditioner, check:

• That your filters have been changed
• That there are no leaks in your vents
• That the registers and grilles throughout your home are open
• That your home is adequately insulated (even the best air conditioners struggle when a home is very poorly insulated)

With that, let’s look at the symptoms of a less-than-efficient air conditioner:

Your energy bill has skyrocketed

As we mentioned at the top, heating and cooling are the biggest energy costs for the average household. That means if there’s a sudden spike in your bills this summer, and it’s not coming from price changes or increased usage, it’s probably a result of air conditioner inefficiencies.

Your air conditioner is cycling too often – or too little

Your AC should run in approximately 15 minute cycles, cycling about 2 to 3 times per hour.  When your air conditioner is too powerful, it rapidly cools certain areas. It won’t, however, run for long enough to distribute the cold air throughout your home. The thermostat will register your home as being cold (because the area near the thermostat is cold), the AC will cut off, the cold will dissipate, and the AC will cycle on again.  That leads to wear and tear, and inefficient energy usage. The opposite is a problem, too – when an air conditioner isn’t properly sized, it has to work harder to cool your home. That means it may not shut off – definitely not energy efficient.

Your AC unit needs a lot of repairs

When you’re getting repairs on a yearly basis, chances are your unit isn’t running as efficiently as it could be. Every part in your AC unit serves a purpose, and those parts work best in concert when they’re new. While we only use high-quality parts for repairs, constant repairs are a sign that your system is past its best before date – you’re probably losing out on energy efficiency.

Your AC is over 10 years old

Just like units in constant need of repair are probably energy inefficient, wear and tear leads to older units losing out on a lot of their efficiency. With old units, the problem is two-fold. You’d be amazed at the technological leaps and bounds we’ve made in the HVAC industry over the last decade. Energy efficiency is a pressing concern in the industry, and we’re getting better and better every year. That means a new unit from 10 years ago is less efficient than a new unit now. Add in the wear and tear, and you’re missing out on a lot of potential savings when you use an older unit. Looking for a new, energy-efficient AC unit? At Comfy Air, we offer AC installation and AC repair in San Marcos and the surrounding area.