Perth’s hot summers and humid Februarys often mean our air conditioners are cranked up to max and our bills are high. But there are a number of ways to save electricity on your air conditioner and cut costs.
How much does it cost to run AC?
Running costs will vary depending on the size of your air conditioner and the energy efficiency of your home. The type of system you opt for and its operating efficiency will also play a part in determining the bill, as does how much you use it!
As a general guide to running costs, ducted evaporative air conditioning can cost as little as $150 for the summer months, while ducted refrigerated may set you back closer to $1000 for the same period, each assuming a 200m2 home.
How to reduce your air conditioner electricity costs
The good news is there are lots of air conditioner saving tips, ranging from the very simple to those that may require a little more time and investment.
Set the right temperature for efficiency
Setting your thermostat to the right position is a great way to maximise a system’s efficiency and reduce your costs. Often air conditioning temperatures are set far lower than they need to be because the system is not being used properly. The Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, The Environment and Water recommends setting your system between 25 - 27 degrees.
The difference between what the temperature is outside and what you have set your temperature also has an impact on your bills. For the best air conditioner temp to save money, set your system to around 8°C cooler than the air temperature outside. Each degree cooler than that will add about 10% to your running costs.
At the height of summer, this may be harder to stick to, but it’s worth keeping an eye on your temperature gauge if you are trying to reduce costs.
Get the right size AC for your home
Making sure that the air conditioner you have is the right size for your home is the biggest favour you can do yourself on the air conditioning front. If your unit is too large, you may end up needlessly using more electricity than you need.
If your system is too small, it’s going to have to work extra hard to cool your space. This additional effort will increase your bills and could place undue pressure on your system, leading to more service and repairs requirements.
Choose the right position
Your system’s effectiveness could be compromised if either the inside or outside units are positioned improperly. Having units located at the right height to cool a room without obstruction inside is the way forward. Outside, your unit needs to be protected from weather extremities so that it doesn’t have to work harder than it needs to.
Improve home insulation to retain cool air
Good insulation inside your home and shading outside it can improve the energy efficiency of your system. Sealing any potential gaps around doors and windows and using draft excluders will protect your system from having to work harder to keep the air at the temperature that you want.
Adding insulation to your walls and ceilings will also keep the cool air in better. In summer, around 40% of cool air is lost through a building’s roof - consider using bulk and reflective insulation in the roof to reduce the cool air lost.
Use Smart Thermostats to optimise cooling
Investing in a smart thermostat to optimise your cooling will definitely reduce your bills. You can access the thermostat from outside your home via a smartphone, which means you have better control over the system and can turn it on and off remotely, if required.
A smart thermostat will also learn your household’s heating and cooling patterns and adjust its settings accordingly. This will further reduce your energy use, as it should automatically power down when you’re not home.
Use ceiling fans to complement your AC
Using ceiling fans to complement your AC is an effective way to increase the effectiveness of your air conditioner. Running both simultaneously will help your air con unit to run more efficiently, while investing in pedestal or ceiling fans means you can reduce your usage of your air con.
Maintain and clean your AC filters regularly
Cleaning and maintaining your air conditioner every 12 months will not only prolong its life but also make it more efficient. A dirty air conditioning unit will have to work harder than a clean one, which means your bills will increase.
You can clean your unit yourself, using warm soapy water, but it’s also important to have it regularly serviced, so that any larger issues can be picked up and resolved quickly.
Does turning off your air conditioner save money?
Again, the answer will be affected by other factors such as how well insulated your house is and the temperatures you’re running your system at. Generally speaking, because it takes so much energy to bring a room down to a cool temperature, turning your air con off to save money will cause energy spikes, as the system fights to reduce the air temperature.
Rather than running the system intermittently to reduce usage, selecting a warmer temperature and having the system running constantly is more energy efficient, thus reducing costs.
The benefits of energy-efficient air conditioners
Choosing an energy-efficient air conditioner has a number of benefits. It will save you money in a couple of different ways and even improve your quality of life.
Lower electricity bills
A more energy-efficient air conditioner means lower electricity bills, which can only be a good thing. While it might be a more expensive outlay initially, reducing your electricity costs means you have more money to spend on the other things in your life.
Longer lifespan of your AC unit
More energy-efficient air conditioners have a longer lifespan as they are less likely to burn out. This longer lifespan also means reduced service and maintenance costs, which also helps your budget.
Better cooling with less energy usage
Units that are more efficient will make the air temperature in your home more ambient. They offer better coverage, meaning that every area of your home can be cooled to the temperature you want. And your bills will be lower too.
Need Help Choosing the Right AC?
Mouritz is a locally owned WA company dedicated to providing valuable and affordable air conditioning services. We know the ins and outs of residential and commercial air conditioning so if you have any questions about choosing the right air conditioning system, our team is happy to help.
Chat to the friendly team today and schedule an appointment for an Mouritz technician to perform a home assessment.