5 Air Conditioner Hacks To Slash Your Power Bill

Australian summers are notorious for a sweaty and sweltering experience. If you hate the heat, you probably belong to the group of Aussies who have at least one air conditioning unit in your home. So while there may be some version of hell brewing outdoors, in your home, you may feel like a happy Eskimo living under polar conditions — that is, until you receive your electricity bill, which is sure to bring your temper to boiling point.

But you don't have to sacrifice your own comfort and sanity, as you can still enjoy using your precious air conditioner while keeping your monthly energy consumption down to a more reasonable level.

Set The Aircon To Dry Mode

If your air conditioner has a ‘dry’ or ‘dehumidify’ option, you’re in luck! By setting the aircon to dry, the unit will remove room humidity, making the air more bearable and easier to cool. The aircon compressor will also run at less power, potentially slashing your electricity consumption by half. Go ahead and check your air conditioner and look for a water drop symbol, and choose that instead of the snowflake symbol for cool. This method is even more effective if you live in humid areas.

This is a great trick that can potentially save you a lot of money on your electricity bill.

Cut The Light

Direct sunlight coming in through the windows warms the house during winter. This is great in Winter, but in summer, you don’t really need all that additional warmth. So cut down both visible and UV light by closing curtains or installing removable window films or mesh covers. Consider installing shades and awnings to further help to block sunlight.

Sunlight isn’t the only light you should be concerned with. Indoor lighting also produces heat. So turn off the lights if you don’t really need them. During the day, turn off lights when natural light is enough; during the night, turn off lights that aren’t being used. This way, you reduce heat gain and also cut down energy consumption.

You may be surprised how you can keep your home cool by keeping the blinds drawn and windows closed.

Air Flow

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At night, there may be times when you can get by while just using regular electric fans. Crack a window open to let the warm air out and let cool air in. Strategically place a fan opposite the window to maximise airflow. It makes total sense when you think about it!

If you’re using ceiling fans, make sure it’s spinning in the proper direction (you should feel air blowing down from the ceiling fan). These procedures can help cool the room even before you turn on the air conditioner so that when you do turn on the aircon, it should require less energy to cool the room further. If air conditioning is really a must at night, you can set the aircon fan on slow while letting a fan spread the cool air.

Exhaust fans should also be used to expel hot air especially in the bathroom and the kitchen. Adding a stand-alone fan while cooking will also help dissipate hot air and humidity. Alternatively, consider cooking outdoors during the summer to minimise indoor heat. A summer barbecue is just perfect!

Insulate

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If your room leaks cool air like a sieve, you are basically letting money slip out of your hands. A poorly insulated room is an air conditioner’s worst nightmare. In this setup, it takes your aircon longer to cool the room while also being unable to keep cool for longer. You practically have your air conditioner doing double duty to keep the room cool. Studies have shown that 30% of a cooling system’s energy consumption is lost through air ducts. So invest in proper insulation and seal air ducts to lock in cool air. Doors and windows should be closed when running the air conditioner at all costs.

Go Green

Plants and shrubberies by the windows are effective in providing shade and cool the air as well. Grow annual vines on trellises and put them on walls and the roof. This will block down the sun and prevent sunlight from heating walls and the roof of the house during summer. You can also add some shade to your air conditioner unit with these plants. A cooler aircon will work better for longer.

These are just 5 hacks to help lower your power bill even with air conditioning. It will make your unit function even better.

Bonus Hack!

Check your filters!

If your aircon is full of gunk it will never cool to full capacity. Worse still, you could be blowing this gunk and particles across your home. Instead, it will be working twice as hard to cool your room. Professional air conditioning cleaning should be conducted at least once a year. Properly cleaned air conditioning units are more energy-efficient and can slash over 20% from your power consumption. Contact Electrodry to perform your annual air conditioner clean for full efficiency.