DeWAR.ie Air Conditioning Service www.dewarairconditioningservice.ie

2. 10 Money Saving Tips For Your Air Con System
One of the great things about the summer is that you
don’t have to spend a fortune on your heating bill. That
said, if it is a particularly hot summer you may well find
yourself spending a considerable amount on your air
conditioning bill. There are, however, many ways to limit
this seasonal spending. Here at DeWAR.ie we have
assembled ten of the very best money saving tips.
Read on to discover our top ten!

3. #1 Bigger Is Not Always Better
It is a commonly held misconception that getting the biggest air
conditioner possible will provide the best possible air
conditioning experience in a room. This is not always the case.
If your air con unit is too big for the room it can contribute to
an uncomfortable, ‘clammy’ feeling environment. The
oversized unit will also use up far more electricity than needed,
wasting money. A smaller unit could do a better job overall and
save you money.
When setting up your room’s ventilation system it is worth
taking the time to consult with professionals. This way you are
making sure that you get the set up most appropriate for the
space you have.

4. #2 Become a Fan of Using Fans
Another way of limiting the cost of using an air
conditioning unit to cool a wide area is to
supplement it with an accompaniment of fans. Fans
can be used to push the cool air generated by the
air con unit further than it would go under normal
circumstances. Since the fans use up considerably
less power than a large air conditioner they are a
simple and economic solution for when your air con
system needs an inexpensive boost.

5. #3 Shut Those Windows!
If you want to cut costs it is important to limit your air
conditioning unit’s workload where possible. While many
people think leaving windows and doors open will aid the
air conditioning system in cooling a room, this is not the
case. Leaving doors and windows closed means your air
con system has a finite area to cool. If you have open
windows and doors the air conditioning unit has more
work to do as it is essentially trying to cool everything
outside the room. This causes the ventilation system to
use up far more energy (and therefore, waste more
money) than if the room was sealed.

6. #4 Blinds and Curtains
While most people like to open the curtains and / or
blinds when it is sunny in order to let more light in,
it is actually somewhat detrimental to the cooling
process. Leaving the curtains closed stops the sun’s
warming rays from entering the room while keeping
cooled air inside.
Blinds can also have a surprisingly significant effect
on the cooling of a room. If you position them at
just the right angle, they can be used to deflect
sunshine out of the room. It might sound a bit silly,
but give it a try. You’d be amazed at how well it
works!

7. #5 Lights Out
A commonly overlooked source of heat is that which is
created by your own electrical devices. Lightbulbs
generate heat and should be turned off during the day
unless absolutely necessary. The saving here is
twofold: The lights running themselves use up
electricity, while the heat they generate puts extra
strain on the air conditioning. Halogen lights/lamps are
particularly hot and energy draining (in addition to
being prone to burnout). Energy saving bulbs tend to
generate less heat than traditional ones in addition to
their cheaper electrical running costs, making them a
viable option for those looking to save money on their
heating bills.

8. #6 Computers Need Their Sleep
Computers are another unexpected source of
heat, particularly in office environments. Certain
high spec machines even need to be monitored
by advanced air cooling systems designed
specifically for them to ensure that they do not
overheat. The cost of keeping such machines cool
can be very high. It is recommended that any
computers which are not in use be turned off
completely or, if that is not possible, they be put
into sleep or hibernation mode.

9. #7 Clean / Replace Filters
If you don’t look after your air conditioner filters
properly they can suffer from a build-up of dirt
which results in them working less efficiently. In
practice, this means that they will have to be left on
for longer periods of time in order to do their job
correctly. The longer they have to be left running,
the more money they waste in relation to electricity
bills. Air conditioner filters should be cleaned
regularly and replaced as often as their type
specifies. Some filters will need to be changed every
month, while others have a much longer lifespan.

10. #8 Service Yearly
To ensure that your air conditioning
system is working at its optimum level of
efficiency it is worth having a professional
contractor service your system once a year.
It is recommended that this service take
place a little bit before the summer kicks off
in earnest. This way you can guarantee that
you won’t get caught out during a heat wave
with your air con down for maintenance.

11. #9 Consider Upgrading
If your air conditioning system is quite old
(approaching the ten year mark for example) it
is in all likelihood not going to be anywhere
near as efficient, in terms of both cooling
potential and cutting down the cost of your
electricity bill, as its more modern
counterparts.
With so many different air conditioning
options available these days, there is a
practical solution to suit every situation.

12. #10 Automated Controls
The automatic setting on air conditioning
controls generally knows best. Many
businesses needlessly waste hundreds of
Euros on their electricity bill every year
because they had someone fiddling with
the air con settings despite not really
knowing what they were doing. When in
doubt leave it to the machine. It has one
job in the whole world and tends to be very
good at it.