Your air conditioner keeps you cool and comfortable during the hot and humid Florida summers. Because it gets a lot of use, it’s important to keep your AC system in good working condition so it works efficiently day after day. The AC experts at Harrington Air Conditioning have the services to ensure your AC stays well-maintained. However, if your climate control system is older or hasn’t been maintained in a while, you may be losing more than you think. Running an inefficient AC could cost you a lot.
Rising Energy Bills
A WUSF news report says that energy bills are on the rise in Florida, with Tampa Electric customers paying $980 more annually than they did in 2020. That’s $747 more for Duke Energy customers, and $511 more for Florida Power & Light customers. While energy costs are typically out of your control, you can do something to cut back on how much energy you use.
Properly maintaining your air conditioner keeps your system clean and efficient, which means it won’t have to work as hard or as often to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. An inefficient AC works harder to cool down your air, using up more energy and increasing your energy bills.
Increased Wear and Tear
All machines wear out eventually, and an AC unit is no different. The more it works, the more stress is put on its parts. Whether it’s the capacitors, fan and blower motors, compressors, or condenser coils, you will find that natural wear and tear takes its toll on the things that make your AC work. If you don’t keep an eye out for worn-out parts, you could end up with one that quits working unexpectedly. Emergency repair calls can cost more than you want to pay.
Reduced Comfort and Humidity Control
An inefficient air conditioner has to work harder to cool your home. In fact, it may not be able to keep up, especially during the hottest times of the year. If you find that your whole home or some rooms are often too warm for comfort, it could be because your AC isn’t working at full capacity.
The evaporator coil in your AC unit is responsible for condensing moisture from the air into water and removing it from your home. This helps reduce the humidity levels in your home. If it’s doing a good job, you should notice a big difference when you walk inside from the muggy Florida air. If it isn’t working as well as it ought to work, then you may feel hot and sticky indoors.
Poor Airflow and Indoor Air Quality
The blower fan in your AC helps circulate cool air throughout your home. If the blower fan is not working correctly, you may find that there are more hot spots and cold spots in your rooms instead of a consistent, comfortable temperature.
The air filter in your climate control unit is also an important part of proper airflow. If the filter is full of dirt and debris, air won’t be able to get through as easily. This negatively affects airflow and also puts more stress on the other parts of your system.
If air is not circulating throughout your home, it’s likely that the indoor air quality is less than ideal. Dust and allergens are not getting circulated into the AC and are trapped in the filter. Instead, they stay in the air that you breathe.
The Impact of an Inefficient AC on Your Budget
If you find yourself repairing your AC over and over again, it could be time for a new unit. A maintenance plan is a great way to lengthen the lifespan of your AC and keep it working as efficiently as possible. Then again, there are times when it’s more cost-effective to replace your old climate control unit with a new, energy-efficient one.
At Harrington Air Conditioning, we provide honest opinions on whether it’s better to repair or replace your broken AC. You already have enough to worry about without having to deal with sales pressure from an AC technician! If we do think that replacement is the best option, take advantage of our 0% interest financing for 48 months.
Florida summers can be hot and sticky, but we believe you should have a cool and comfortable place to come home to. Contact us to schedule a service call or to ask about a new, efficient air conditioner.
