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Tips to Help Your Unit Run Efficiently


With energy prices on the rise, saving energy is on everyone’s mind. Considering heating and cooling are the single biggest energy consumers in your home, and account for about 40 percent of all the energy used by homeowners, taking steps to make sure your system is running efficiently can pay off in lower utility bills. In addition, with proper maintenance, central air conditioning units should last at least 12 to 15 years. 

ARI offers homeowners the following tips on how to keep their central air conditioning units running efficiently:

  • Change the air filter. Check the furnace filter and change it if it’s dirty, or according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. Regularly changing the filter keeps dust from collecting on the evaporator coil fins. Keeping your filter clean also can cut energy consumption 5 percent to 15 percent. Turn off the power to the furnace before pulling the filter out so the blower doesn’t come on and blow dust throughout the system. Be sure to position the filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Clear away debris such as leaves, grass, weeds and plants that block airflow through the outdoor condensing unit, which is the large metal box in your yard next to your home. Anything that collects on the unit’s fins will block airflow and reduce its efficiency. Grass clippings thrown by the lawn mower are particularly common offenders.
  • Occasionally clean the outdoor condensing unit by spraying it with a water hose.
  • Check to make sure air conditioning vents inside your home are not obstructed by furniture.
  • Close off unused rooms and close vents in those rooms.
  • Set the fan speed on high except in very humid weather. When it's humid, set the speed on low; you will get less cooling, but the air circulation will make it feel cooler.
  • Hire a professional to service your air conditioner. A well-trained technician will find and fix problems in your air conditioning system. However, not all service technicians have the same level of training. Look for a technician that is certified by North American Technician Excellence (NATE). Click here to find a NATE-certified technician in your local area. 
  • Be sure to insist that the technician:
    • Check for the correct amount of refrigerant and test for refrigerant leaks.
    • Capture any refrigerant that must be evacuated from the system.
    • Check for and seal duct leakage in central systems.
    • Measure air flow through the evaporator coil.
    • Check the accuracy of the thermostat.
    • Verify the correct electric control sequence and make sure that the heating system and cooling system cannot operate simultaneously.
    • Inspect electric terminals, clean and tighten connections, and apply a non-conductive coating if necessary.
    • Oil motors and check belts for tightness and wear.