Stop making these 6 big air conditioning mistakes
Get more out of your home air con with our expert tips
There’s nothing more rewarding than a cool blast when walking into your home on a hot summer day. Since your air conditioning is the one to thank, it’s important to remember that its “wellbeing” lies in your hands. That’s why a clean and well-maintained system will effectively and efficiently run for your thermal comfort on the long term.
According to Australia’s Government guide to sustainable homes, heating and cooling take up approximately 40% of the household energy use. With the electricity cost rising in the past decade, it’s now more important than ever to take responsible actions.
Yet a single air conditioning mistake can sometimes cost you money. To overcome this, we’ve put together the most common mistakes people usually make with their air con unit, along with our advice to them. Read this blog article and you won’t have to waste your money and energy anymore.
1) Buying an air con unit that is just not right for you
In the world of air conditioners, the “one size fits all” rule does simply not apply. Units that are too small will not handle the cooling/heating demands and shorten their lifespan. On the other hand, oversized units will cycle on and off, leading to unwanted temperature changes and high energy bills.
Our advice: there are some basic rules in order to find out the size of the air conditioner you need. Doing an accurate load calculation, measuring the square footage, layout, and insulation of your house are some of the factors to determine the right size air con for your needs..
2) Setting temperatures too low in the summer
Does turning your home into an “icicle” sound like a great idea to beat the summer heat? Well, it may be for just a second. However, it’s important to know that the system will run harder, longer and waste more energy to reach this unrealistic goal.
Our advice: Setting an air con one degree warmer than you normally would cut your cooling costs by 10% according to Energy Australia. A small change can make such a big difference, so imagine what that means over the years!
3) Cooling or heating empty rooms
Almost a quarter of Australians admit to leaving their air con running when they’re not home, according to Finder researches. This amounts to 2.3 million households, wasting an average of 4.1 hours in energy per day.
The reason is they either forget their air conon or they want to receive a good “frosty” welcome.
Our advice: With these figures in mind, using air conditioning wisely is the key. By that, we mean smart air conditioners. With a wide range of smart air con units, smart thermostats and smart apps on the market, you will be in total control of your thermal comfort, anytime, anywhere.
4) Neglecting regular air con maintenance
Is your air con unit looking kind of tired lately? Or does it blow hot air instead of cool air? This is typically your system’s way of telling you it needs repair or, in worse cases, replacement. Most of the time, incorrect maintenance led to these problems.
Our advice: Just like any periodic health check, your air conditioner maintenance is also vital for an optimal and long-lasting performance. The best way to ensure it is to schedule a professional check by a trusted and qualified company. Ideally, you should have your air con system inspected and cleaned at least once a year.
5) Choosing a low Energy Star Rating air con
If you noticed any unusual spikes in your electricity bill lately, your air con may be at fault. Older air conditioners were designed to meet the Australian Standards of their time and consume more energy than modern ones. If your air con has a lower star rating, this means it’s not very energy efficient, nor environmental friendly.
Our advice: We recommend you carefully check the star rating label when buying a new air con to replace your old one. The label displays a star rating, from 1 to 6 stars, for cooling and heating efficiency. “The more, the better” rule applies, which means that every extra star will add up in energy-efficiency and cut down costs at the same time.
Nowadays, super-efficient air conditioners can go up to 10 stars. Imagine how low your energy bill could be!
6) Hiring unqualified air con tradies
Working with unlicensed tradies for minor home services may give you the impression of saving some money for other things. In reality, if something fails, such people may conveniently disappear and not be there to repair it. Or they might not have the resources or expertise to get your issue solved in a timely manner. It’s probably not ideal if your air con unit shuts down in the hot days of summer, so you end up spending much more time and money to fix it or buy a new one.
Our advice: Calling a trusted and reliable company would definitely bring you not only peace of mind but expert advice, a large certified team of tradespeople and the assurance that they’ll be there if you ever require their services. Here, at Jaric Air Conditioning, we give you our word for it!
Talk to Jaric’s air conditioning experts for more advice
For expert advice on whether air conditioners or air purifiers are best for you, talk to our friendly team of specialists at Jaric Air Conditioning today. Contact us online or call us at 1300 452 742 and get personalised advice and solutions for your home or business today.