More than 90 percent of homes and virtual businesses use air conditioning to beat the summer heat. When temperatures soar in the UAE. You need a properly working air conditioner to keep you comfortable in homes and offices. In the hot weather of the UAE, given the overwhelming prevalence of AC, most people think they know how to maintain their AC system properly. W, whether it’s central air, a window unit, or ductless mini AC splits. But unfortunately, many owners fall victim to common air conditioning mistakes that waste energy and cost money. Which results in a spike in their bills. If you’re worried about high utility bills and anxiously want to save money on bills, then this article is for you. As we’re going to discuss the common 7 air conditioning mistakes that can cause your energy bills to increase substantially,

1. Buying the Wrong AC System: 

While buying an AC, we often didn’t choose the correct sized air conditioner. If you buy an oversized unit, it may cycle on and off too quickly. Making it ineffective at removing humidity and maintaining a uniform room temperature. In comparison, if you buy a small unit, it will need to run constantly, drastically shortening its lifespan. Determine the approximate cooling capacity by doing a proper calculation, taking all things into account: each room’s square footage, room layout, insulation, and function occupancy. Or else, consult an air conditioning contractor in the first place.

2. Setting the thermostat at a too-low temperature:

Most homeowners feel content with temperatures in the high 70s but set their thermostats much lower. But your air conditioner can only keep your home about twenty degrees cooler than the temperature outside. If the outside temperature is around 90 degrees, your air conditioner can only cool your home at about 70 degrees. And if you set your thermostat below 70 degrees, your air conditioner will run all day long, futilely attempting to cool your home at room temperature. As a result, it’ll automatically spike your energy bill and create a huge strain on your AC system.

3. Ignore routine a/c maintenance:

Regularly maintaining your AC maintenance will maximize the equipment’s ability to operate more efficiently and increase its lifespan. During the maintenance visit, an HVAC service technician will inspect, clean, and properly service your unit to ensure it functions as effectively as possible. If you forget or neglect routine AC maintenance, you will encounter some issues that will increase your bills and may go undetected until they become larger, more complex, and more expensive to repair. So, keep an eye on your AC system and contact professional HVAC experts to avoid any more issues and save money.

4. Forget to change air filters:

You should have to clean or replace air filters every month during the summer and more frequently if you see the filter excessively clogged with dust and debris. Changing your HVAC system’s air filter is vital for your system’s efficiency. A dirty air filter will affect indoor air quality and make it more difficult for your HVAC system to circulate conditioned air through the home. So, a clean air filter significantly improves the air conditioner’s efficiency, lowering energy consumption by 5 to 15%. Room air conditioners have a filter in the front-facing grill, and the ductless mini splits store their air filters in a removable panel.

Additionally, as a tip, if you have a smart thermostat, it will send you an alert that it’s time to change your filter on time to avoid any inconvenience. It’s one of the common air conditioning mistakes with our HVAC systems. You can also consult the HVAC cleaning professionals for exact instructions on changing the air filters.

5. Ignore sealing the air leaks:

Did you know that 10–20% of your heating and cooling costs escape through air leaks in your home? Sometimes, the cause of an air leak is a draughty window or door. And sometimes, a small crack or gap around the vent, baseboards, and outlets. When you have to check the gaps or leaks, keep in mind these things so you can easily detect them:

1. Check the daylight around the windows or door frames.
2. Gaps around the doors, baseboards, electric outlets, vents, and fans.
3. Cracks in the corners, chimneys, or bricks

After identifying the specific air leak places. Visit your local home improvement store to buy the caulk or weather stripping to seal the air leaks.

6. Relying on an Inefficient AC System: 

Another common air conditioning mistake is relying on one air conditioner, whether ten years old or not working efficiently. If the air conditioner is over 20 years old or the AC is the wrong size according to the size of your home. Then it’s probably driving your bills. We all know that older systems are not as efficient as newer systems.

Oversized AC units are short-cycle. They start too frequently and don’t run enough to balance your home’s temperature. Also, short cycling increases your bills and leaves you with an uncomfortable living environment. Replacing an inefficient AC system will give you a comfortable home environment and lower energy bills. It will also help to recoup some of your replacement costs.

7. Closing the Registers and Vents:

Your whole HVAC system is designed to heat and cool a certain amount of space. Closing the vents and registers alters the amount of available space for the system to heat and cool. Also forcing the system to act like an improperly sized unit. Therefore, it can increase energy costs and start straining the system.

Trust AC Pro Professionals: 

As a professional in the AC industry for more than 20 years, AC pro serves AC maintenance, AC repair, and duct cleaning services in the UAE. We pride ourselves on providing top-notch services to our AC customers—resulting in countless customer reviews and high ratings.

If you need to replace, repair or maintain your HVAC system, our team at AC Pro is here to help you at every step. We’re also here to answer all your queries. Contact us now.