My air conditioner consumes too much electricity, what should I do?
Does your electricity bill make you jump? Even though the heating is off during summer, your air conditioner might be the culprit behind that high consumption. Let’s explore why and discover ways to trim down your bill.
WHAT’S CAUSING THIS PROBLEM?
WARNING
Before carrying out any work on your appliance, make absolutely sure you first completely disconnect it from the mains electricity supply.
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK.
Wear protective gloves if you need to disassemble the appliance
RISK OF CUTS AND ABRASIONS.
The thermostat is set incorrectly
Very often, high energy consumption is linked to the usage patterns of a piece of equipment. The same goes for your air conditioner. If you set it at a temperature that is too low, not only will you risk catching a cold, but your air conditioning will run at full blast and consume more energy.
In summer, there’s no need to set your air conditioner to 20°C when it’s 30°C outside! setting the thermostat to 23°C or 24°C is sufficient. Finally, setting the set temperature of the air conditioner from 5°C to 7°C below the outside temperature allows you to be comfortable while limiting your electricity consumption.
In the middle of a heat wave, there’s no need to run the air conditioner continuously. A few well-chosen hours a day are sufficient.
Neglecting the maintenance of the air conditioner’s filters
If your air conditioner is using more electricity than usual, it’s probably related to a lack of maintenance. The first thing to check is the air filters. After unplugging your appliance, remove the cover from your air conditioner to inspect them. Are they full of dust? First clean use your vacuum cleaner to remove most of the dirt. Then, run your filter through lukewarm, slightly soapy water. Scrub with a toothbrush if necessary. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and then allow the filters to dry completely before repositioning them in the unit. We advise you to clean your air filters once or twice a month, if in continuous use. It can be handy to have a spare set to replace them with while the other set are being washed. On the other hand, if one of the air filters has a hole or is deformed, it will be necessary to replace it for optimal performance.
Buy an air filter for air conditioner
Air isn’t circulating properly in the air conditioning system
If, despite maintaining the filters, your air conditioning continues to consume too much energy, it may be because of poor airflow in the unit. For example, a dust-saturated fan or evaporator duct prevents the air from circulating properly. As a first step, you can try to clean these elements with a special air conditioning spray. If this is not enough, we invite you to contact a professional who can carry out a thorough maintenance of your air conditioner.