The decisions you make about your air conditioner impact your household’s budget, comfort, and safety. We’ve put together a few tips to help you make smart choices and reduce your home’s energy use.

Three Ways to Reduce Energy Consumption

Before you invest in a new cooling system, turn these three practices into a habit:

1. Keep blinds and shades closed on windows that receive direct sunlight.
2. In the summer, set your thermostat to 78 degrees – a lower temperature doesn’t remove heat faster.
3. Use other major appliances less often, ideally when your air conditioner is off, and after the heat of the day.

Is Your Air Conditioner the Right Size?

Many homeowners believe that a larger air conditioner is more effective at removing heat from a space, but this is not true. An air conditioner that is too big – and has more BTUs (British Thermal Units) than required – will operate on shorter, more frequent cycles. When this happens, the air conditioner will not have had enough time to effectively lower the temperature.

Similarly, when an air conditioner doesn’t have enough BTUs, the unit will run for longer periods, but still won’t be able to remove enough heat to cool a large space. Too big or too small, an air conditioner that has been inaccurately sized will use more energy to operate, increasing your monthly utility bills. The constant or lengthy cycling will put more stress on the system, and repairs are more likely.

How to Calculate BTUs

What exactly are BTUs? BTUs are a unit of measure to calculate the energy an air conditioning system uses to remove heat from a room (or entire home) per hour. Since a good air conditioner will use about 20 BTUs per square foot, you can multiply the square footage of your desired space by 20 to determine the BTUs you’ll need.

As every home is unique, BTUs aren’t the only thing to consider when selecting an air conditioner. To ensure your new AC unit is the right size for your space, contact the professionals at Green Air Care for AC replacement. We’ve been installing air conditioners since 2011.

Improve Performance and Efficiency with Regular AC Service

Just like a vehicle, your air conditioner requires regular service. Proactive service prevents repairs and ensures optimal efficiency and longevity. Green Air Care offers a comprehensive HVAC Maintenance Plan that includes two maintenance visits a year, exclusive discounts on repairs and more! Contact us to schedule service throughout Buffalo Grove, Elgin, Round Lake, Lake Zurich, Highland Park, Wheeling, Schaumburg, and Chicago, IL.

Have more questions about your air conditioner? Check out our FAQs or give us a call at (888) 363-5798 for further assistance.