{"id":620,"date":"2024-07-22T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-22T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/?p=620"},"modified":"2026-03-26T14:17:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T18:17:39","slug":"tips-to-help-you-boost-ac-efficiency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/air-conditioning-service\/tips-to-help-you-boost-ac-efficiency\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips to Help You Boost AC Efficiency"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/hot-heat-fan.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/hot-heat-fan-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Woman overheating indoors while sitting in front of a fan, highlighting the need for AC maintenance.\" class=\"wp-image-621\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/hot-heat-fan-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/hot-heat-fan-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/hot-heat-fan-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/hot-heat-fan-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/hot-heat-fan.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Summer temperatures are steadily increasing, and that can mean that your energy costs are creeping up as your air conditioner works harder to keep your home comfortable. The good news is that there are some steps that you can take to maximize the energy efficiency of your air conditioner while still maintaining a comfortable temperature for your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep reading to learn more about some simple ways that you can help your air conditioner to operate more efficiently and lower monthly energy costs. Then give our team a call if you want to schedule service with one of the best <a href=\"\/service-areas\/east-rochester-ny\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rochester heating and cooling companies<\/a>. Our team is ready to help with all of your HVAC needs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>What Are the Best AC Maintenance Tips to Improve Efficiency?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Change your air filter regularly to keep airflow steady.<\/li><li>Rinse the outdoor unit to remove dirt and debris that can trap heat.<\/li><li>Clear the condensate drain line to help control excess indoor humidity.<\/li><li>Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible to reduce energy use.<\/li><li>Schedule professional AC maintenance to clean internal components and catch small issues early.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2>Homeowner AC Maintenance Tips to Boost Efficiency<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One way to boost <a href=\"\/air-conditioning\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">air conditioning<\/a> efficiency is by keeping up with regular homeowner maintenance. When you change out the air filter for your air conditioner on time each month, you can ensure that airflow into the system is optimized.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The same thing goes for rinsing off the outdoor units with your water hose each month. This helps to rinse away any dirt and debris so that heat can escape more easily instead of being trapped inside your home. When your air conditioner battles against poor airflow, either in or out, it has to work harder and consume more energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also be sure to rinse out the condensate drain line with vinegar each month. Doing this helps to prevent clogs from developing in the line. If water begins spilling out the condensate drain line, that water evaporates into the air and makes your home more humid.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Smart AC Usage Habits That Improve Efficiency<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also important to be careful about how you set your thermostat. The US Department of Energy recommends that you not set your thermostat any lower than 78\u00b0 for cooling in the summer. We know that many homeowners tend to set their thermostats significantly lower than this, and we totally understand that you want to stay cool in the summer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the higher you can set your thermostat, the less energy that your air conditioner will consume. If you want to try a higher temperature setting, we recommend that you change settings by a single degree at a time so that you can adjust to the difference instead of jumping up several degrees and being uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Professional AC Maintenance That Helps Boost Efficiency<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Professional maintenance is another great way to maintain energy efficiency for your air conditioner across its entire lifespan. Our team can inspect the unit and clean out intricate gears and components so that they can work together smoothly instead of struggling against dust and grime buildup that happens naturally every time. We can also identify any repair needs and replace small components all along so that your air conditioner is always working at its best and saving you on your monthly energy costs year after year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Question: How can you improve AC efficiency during the summer?<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong><strong>Answer:<\/strong> You can improve AC efficiency by keeping up with simple monthly maintenance and being mindful of thermostat settings. Replacing the air filter on time, rinsing off the outdoor unit, and keeping the system clean can help airflow stay strong and reduce the amount of energy your air conditioner uses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Question: How often should you change your AC filter to help efficiency?<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong><strong>Answer:<\/strong> The article recommends changing your air filter each month to help maintain proper airflow into the system. When the filter gets dirty, your air conditioner has to work harder to move air through the home, which can reduce efficiency and increase monthly cooling costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Question: Does cleaning the outdoor AC unit help it run better?<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong><strong>Answer:<\/strong> Yes, rinsing the outdoor unit with a water hose each month can help remove dirt and debris that interfere with heat transfer. When heat can escape more easily from the system, your air conditioner does not have to work as hard to keep your home comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Question: What thermostat setting helps balance comfort and AC efficiency?<br>Answer:<\/strong> A higher thermostat setting generally helps your air conditioner use less energy during the summer. The article notes that 78 degrees is a recommended cooling temperature, and it suggests raising the setting gradually, one degree at a time, so you can stay comfortable while improving efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Question: Why is professional AC maintenance important for efficiency?<br>Answer:<\/strong> Professional maintenance helps your air conditioner stay efficient by cleaning internal components, checking for repair needs, and keeping parts working smoothly together. Regular service can reduce the strain caused by dust and wear, which helps support better performance and more consistent energy savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"How can you improve AC efficiency during the summer?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"You can improve AC efficiency by keeping up with simple monthly maintenance and being mindful of thermostat settings. 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Our team is here to help with all of your heating and air conditioning needs.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn more about some simple ways that you can help your air conditioner to operate more efficiently and lower monthly energy costs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[70],"tags":[13,93],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/620"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=620"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/620\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1092,"href":"https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/620\/revisions\/1092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.potterhvac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}