How To Make an Aircon Colder
When your HDB flat starts to become warmer especially during the hottest times of the day, you almost always instinctively reach for the AC remote control to lower the temperature settings of your air conditioner. And each time, you unfailingly increase your energy consumption and end up with electricity bills that can break the bank. Constantly adjusting your thermostat settings forces your air conditioning unit to cope with drastic temperature changes in order to cool your home–and doing this requires far more energy than simply allowing the thermostat to reach its pre-set temperature target and maintain it there.
But there are many tweaks for making your air conditioning system colder–and consequently help you save on your energy bills. Here are six of them.
Blinds and Heavy Curtains
Blinds and heavy curtains effectively keep sunlight away and prevent it from heating the interior of your home. This assists your air conditioner in reaching the set temperature faster, which means less energy consumption.
Air Seal
For a window-type aircon, the integrity of the air seal around the air conditioning unit should be regularly checked and maintained. The air seal keeps the hot air out and insulates the colder space inside your home, helping your window-type air conditioner cool down the room faster. You can easily tell if there are gaps between the wall and the air conditioning unit; and if you find gaps, simply apply an appropriate air sealant. A good air seal expands the lifespan of your window-type AC unit. If the operating conditions are always optimal, the less likely the AC gets overworked.
Short Cycling
Short cycling happens when your air conditioner frequently turns on and off automatically because it is not sized appropriately for the room and your cooling needs. An AC unit that is way too large for the space will normally short cycle, while a smaller unit will not stop running because it has difficulty reaching or maintaining your desired temperature setting for the room. Either way, you waste money and energy. Avoid short cycling by choosing the correct size of air conditioner for a room. For further information on air conditioner sizing, you can refer to this easy-to-follow guide on estimating aircon cooling load in different types of rooms.
Fans
Fans require significantly less power to run than air conditioners, and they can help direct and circulate the cold air from the air conditioning unit throughout the different rooms in your home. Choose rechargeable fans as much as possible, since they run on less power and are far more energy-efficient than traditional fans.
Interior Design
The placement of your air conditioning unit with respect to furniture pieces and heat-generating appliances impacts the overall cooling performance of your air conditioner. Even small electronic gadgets, when left plugged in even when they are not in use, produce heat that can add up against your air conditioner. Also, when you position fans to circulate cold air from your AC, be mindful of any furniture that might block the path of flowing air. Additionally, choose home furnishings that are made of natural materials and fibers because they tend to keep you feeling cooler than synthetic ones.
Aircon Maintenance
A dirty air filter, clogged drainage pipe, and all the issues resulting from neglect and lack of AC maintenance make your air conditioning unit work harder than usual to cool your room. If you’re too busy to do routine maintenance checks on your air conditioner, you can always book professional aircon servicing, even a chemical overhaul, to do it for you. An AC that is kept in good shape remains energy efficient. So whenever you pay aircon service professionals, it always comes back to you in terms of energy savings.
