If you live in Montgomery, AL you're no stranger to humid weather and high electric bills thanks to running your AC so much. You may take cost-cutting measures by turning off the AC at certain times of the day or by suffering through a higher AC setting than you're really comfortable with. However, you may not have to suffer so much. Here are three ways your AC may be eating up your electricity without providing much cooling.
A Low SEER Rating
If your AC is more than 10 years old, it is very likely that it has a SEER (
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating lower than 10, which is extremely energy inefficient. The lowest SEER rating currently allowed by the U.S. Department of Energy is 13, and the higher the rating, the more energy the
AC unit will save you.
An Improper Size
If your AC is too big or too small for a room or for your home, it won't cool properly and it won't be able to maintain the right humidity levels. When your AC is too small, you have to run it at full capacity and you still feel hot. If your AC is too large, it cools too fast and doesn't run for long enough to
maintain proper humidity, leaving you with clammy air. Both of these instances use more power than a properly sized AC does.
A Need for Maintenance
Any number of things can go wrong with your AC that impedes its ability to run properly, like loose parts, bent fan blades, and dirty coils. You probably won't notice them right away, but the problems get worse if your AC goes without maintenance. Yearly maintenance will keep everything working properly and will catch tiny problems before they turn into AC disasters that are extremely expensive to fix.
The monthly cost of running an inefficient AC adds up over time, especially in Alabama's weather. Use
AC Southeast® to find the perfect HVAC contractor for AC maintenance or replacement services.
