AC Upgrades That Can Save You Money

Energy bills of most homeowners’ skyrocket as Bay Area summer temperatures soar and also because of new energy policies that are not helping either. The HVAC system in your home accounts for more than one-fourth of your electricity bill on average. You can keep the energy costs down and increase cooling efficiency by making specific air conditioner upgrades. Keep reading to learn more about the kind of upgrades that can save you money.

Change Your Thermostat

You should consider investing in a smart thermostat for best results. The thermostat in your air conditioner impacts the system’s efficiency. You can save 10% or more in a year by installing a functioning thermostat. Taking this into account, you would need to program it to run 10 – 15 degrees higher for 8 hours in a day. It’s recommended to program a thermostat to run at 78 degrees when not at home. This helps in reducing the overall energy costs.

Programable thermostats allow for setting different temperature controls. There are certain smart thermostats that can be controlled remotely. You can lower the temperature when you are about to reach home to come to a comfortable environment. Smart thermostats allow for optimizing an air conditioner for use in hot and humid conditions.

Upgrade Your AC Filter

Changing your AC filter is a simple upgrade. In fact, this inexpensive upgrade can help you save up to 15% on your electricity usage. Fiberglass filters are the most common type of filters used. These are available as permanent, washable, pleated, or electro-static. You should inspect these filters monthly to determine whether they need to be changed or not.

You may need to replace the air filters once a month depending on the air quality of the place you live in. In general, air filters need to be replaced every 3 months. You cannot replace permanent filters. With that said, you need to clean them regularly so that air flow is optimized. These filters may cost more upfront. You can recover the costs in the form of long-term savings. Dirty air filters reduce the system’s efficiency. They also increase the energy bill.

Upgrade to Save Money

Air conditioners are among the most expensive investments in a house. You should consider investing in a new one if it has already been 10 years. Newer models are more energy efficient and help in cutting down costs. These are a few reasons to upgrade your AC system and save money:

Energy efficiency

Newer AC systems are more efficient as compared to older ones. Upgraded systems require less energy for cooling a home. You may need to pay more upfront, but you should be able to able to recover up to 50% in reduced monthly energy bills alone. This means accumulated savings in the long run and more money stays in your pocket.

Repair costs

Air conditioning systems lose efficiency with time. They may require frequent repairs and are likelier to break down. Repair costs can add up quickly. These costs may have exceeded the cost of an upgrade before you know it.

The purchase of a new air conditioner system is more cost-effective than accumulated repair costs in certain situations. Don’t ignore the importance of air conditioner maintenance. You can significantly increase the lifespan of your unit by investing in regular maintenance.