Your air conditioner plays an important role in keeping your family comfortable, especially during hot St. Louis summers. But do you really know if your air conditioner is running efficiently or not? There are a variety of factors that can influence AC performance and efficiency. Here we explore a few ways in which you can check if your AC is running efficiently or not.
To learn more or schedule an air conditioner service call with our heating and air conditioning professionals, contact the experts at Galmiche & Sons today.
Top Tips for Air Conditioner Efficiency
1. Check What Temperature the Supply Register Is At
The supply registers supply cold air to your entire property. Ideally, your supply register should be at the least 15 degrees cooler than the air outside your home. This is a sign that your AC is running efficiently.
To check this:
- Switch on your air conditioner and leave it running for 15-20 minutes. (It helps to do this on a day when the outside temperature is over 80 degrees.)
- Place a regular thermometer on the supply register, closest to the cooling equipment of the AC.
- Let the thermometer stay there for at least 5 minutes. Then make a note of the temperature.
- Now, find the return vent. (Use a piece of paper and place it near each vent of the AC. The vent that pulls the paper inwards towards itself is the return vent.)
- Let the thermometer rest close to the return vent for 5 minutes and make a note of the temperature.
- Compare the two temperatures you’ve collected.
- If the supply register temperature is 15 degrees or cooler than the return vent temperature, it means your AC is running efficiently.
2. Look at Your Electric Bills
If your electricity bills have risen considerably in a very short span of time (say a month), then it could be an indication that you need HVAC system repairs.
Usually, your air conditioner will start to drain more electricity to run when there is something clogging the filters. Since the filters keep large dirt and pollutants out of your home, they can get clogged up in your air conditioner. Over time, this debris can prevent air from flowing smoothly into your property, resulting in poor or inconsistent cooling.
So, if your electricity bills are high, disassemble the AC filter and check if it is clogged. Wipe or wash it clean or replace the old filter to get your AC running perfectly again.
The same goes for your outdoor evaporator coils, which are often exposed to dust and dirt outside your home. This coating of debris makes your AC inefficient in absorbing the heat within your property and does not ensure correct heat exchange. This results in the creation of hot spots and cold spots in your home.
If neither of these issues is the cause for a spike in AC bills, you should contact a professional to evaluate your system.
3. Examine If the Blower Is Working or Not
The air conditioner blower is responsible for blowing the cool air in the AC into the rest of the house or office space. Age can result in the blower motor wearing down. Or, some debris may have got stuck in the blower, making it sluggish or inefficient.
Normally, a well-functioning blower is quiet. But, if the blower starts to make strange, loud noises, it is a sign that something is wrong. Over time, without intervention, the blower will get worse and will stop your AC from working efficiently.
In fact, any such types of squeals, clicks, and banging sounds coming from your air conditioner are signs that something is wrong.
Our St. Louis HVAC Experts Can Ensure Your AC Is Running Efficiently
Galmiche & Sons is a reputed HVAC provider in St. Louis, MO. We have decades of experience servicing air conditioners and replacing them when needed. If your AC is running inefficiently or you are experiencing AC problems, our team of professionals can visit your home, office, or industrial space and take a look at what is wrong with your AC. We can then do the AC repairs necessary and suggest a replacement if required. Contact us today by phone at 314-993-1110 or online to schedule your service appointment.
