It’s only natural to rely on your air conditioners on a hot summer day for a cool breeze of air.  It feels relaxing to have an air conditioning unit giving you cool temperatures on the hottest of days during summer.  But what if your air conditioner is not functioning efficiently? It’s always important to do an air conditioner efficiency check especially during summers to make sure that it is functioning efficiently and properly. But how do you perform an efficiency check?

Below are some tips to help you check the efficiency of your AC unit and to make sure that you get the most out of it.

Checking the Filter

Dirty filters can also cause your AC units to run inefficiently especially if they are clogged. It’s always suggested to replace your AC filters at least once in every 3 months to make sure that your unit will run smoothly and efficiently. Dirty and clogged filters can lead to wasted energy which also means wasted money.

Check Areas for Extra Sources of Heat

An AC unit will not be able to do its job properly especially if there are extra sources of heat inside your house. If there are any areas or part of your house that receives extra heat like your windows because of excessive sunlight, your unit will have to work more just to make that area cool.

Checking the House Insulation

Even though your AC unit is new, it doesn’t mean that it’s running efficiently. If your house is not properly insulated, your unit will have a hard time making your living areas cool and comfortable. Poor insulation can result to air leakage. You don’t really want to pay more money for your energy bills every month even though you’re not getting the most out of your AC unit. Be sure to check the insulation of your home if you want your AC to run efficiently.

Measuring the Air Temperature Differential

When the temperature outside goes high, you have to set your thermostat for a temperature that’s lower than your room temperature. Just let the device to run until it reaches the set temperature. After that, place a refrigerator thermometer inside of your AC air duct. Wait for at least 10 minutes and record the temperature reading. Find your AC unit’s return air duct and place a thermometer inside it to also get the temperature inside there. Next, get the difference between the first temperature reading and the second. If the result is less than 14 degrees, it means that your unit is already low on refrigerant which causes it to run inefficiently. Call a professional repairman to help solve this issue.