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Use a programmable thermostat or individual unit timer to start cooling off the house before you get home from work. This is cheaper and more efficient than leaving the air conditioner running all day, despite rumors to the contrary.

6. Vents Are Closed While Your Air Conditioner Is Running

Opinions vary on the efficiency of closing vents and doors to unused rooms. In many cases, this can decrease the efficiency of a central air conditioning system. Consult an expert before closing off any parts of the house for the summer. Also be careful about closing off any rooms that may have a thermostat.

7. Your Air Conditioner’s Thermastat Is Too Low

If you are comfortable at 78 degrees, don’t come home and turn the thermostat down to 70 degrees. It will not get you to 78 any faster. It will just skip past 78 and waste ever more energy getting to excessively low temperatures.

8. Your Air Conditioner Is Too Hot

Make sure lamps, televisions, stereos or other heat-generators are not close enough to the thermostat to accidentally drive up the temperature reading and overwork the air conditioner.

9. You’re Only Using Your Air Conditioner

Many people think their air conditioner is a substitute for ceiling fans. Instead, they should be used in tandem. According to Energy Star, make sure the fan is switched to push air downward (typically counter-clockwise). It may seem more logical to reverse the fan so it is pulling hot air upward. However, the downward airflow creates a “wind chill effect,” which makes you feel cooler.

10. You’re Using The Wrong Fans Too Often

On the other hand, exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom can push cool, conditioned air out of the house. They should not be used more than absolutely necessary in the summer.

10 Air Conditioning Mistakes You’re Making  was originally published on blackdoctor.org

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