The use of air conditioning equipment is an excellent option to cool home environments and increase comfort during the summer months. To make a more efficient use and avoid surprises in the electricity billespecially in the context of this heat wave, some recommendations should be taken into account.
1. What kind of equipment to buy?
If you are thinking of buying equipment, it is preferable to choose air conditioners with class A energy efficiency label. In this way you can save more than 30% compared to a G or F equipment.
In addition, it is advisable to use inverter technology air conditioners, mainly in environments where the equipment is running for many hours. They have a higher performance and although they may cost a little more than traditional ones, in case they are used a lot, the savings in energy consumption can reach 40%.
2. At what temperature to program it?
Among Uruguayans there is a custom of placing the equipment at 17 or 18 degrees in summer to get cold faster, something far from what is recommended.
The suggested use temperature during summer is 25°C. Each degree that is lowered in summer to cool the house means an increase in energy consumption of around 5%.
3. Ventilate the rooms
To achieve the desired temperature, without raising the electricity bill excessively, it is recommended to open the windows and ventilate the house, for example at night when the temperature tends to decrease, and close the windows, lower the blinds and draw the curtains in the hottest hours when the equipment is turned on.
It is also recommended to place weather stripping on doors and windows, to help keep the cold generated by the air conditioning inside the environment. a correct thermal isolation can save up to 50% energy.
4. A clean team spends less
Cleaning the air filter of the indoor unit is a simple task that should be carried out at least three times a year, as recommended by UTE. You can also hire the technical service to do a comprehensive check of the equipment.
This prevents the equipment’s motor from overloading and consuming more energy than it should. When the filter is dirty, the passage of air through this part is difficult, which is the heating or cooling air depending on the season of the year. These actions help extend the life of the device and maintain its performance.
Also, if the filters and components are clean, the air in the room will also be clean. In this way, allergies and respiratory problems due to dust, for example, are avoided.
