Improving Energy Efficiency During Air Conditioning Installation

Air conditioning installation can turn your home into the icy igloo you've always dreamed of. Unfortunately, you could be paying much more for that privilege than you really need to be. Not just for initially putting the system in, but on a monthly basis through your electric company. There's no doubt about it—it's not cheap to live in a cool home during the summer. But there are ways you can maximize your energy efficiency and make sure you aren't throwing money out the window.

Sealing The House
The biggest way to maximize your energy efficiency is to make sure your home is properly sealed. If you have cold air escaping through poorly sealed windows, you can see how this will negatively affect your electric bill. Even the most adept air conditioning installation won't be able to overcome big gaps in your seals. So make it a point to go around and see if there are any obvious places your cool air could be escaping. It might seem obvious to yell at your kids and tell them to close the front door, but there are hidden escape paths that are probably costing you a lot more money.

Insulation
Before you bother with air conditioning installation, you should make sure you have a proper amount of insulation in your attic. Without it, energy efficiency is going to be a pipe dream. Much of that cool air is simply going to escape right into the attic and out into the atmosphere. This will be an even worse problem in the winter when trying to keep your home warm. Either way, make sure this isn't an issue before you get your house set up for the cool bliss of the A/C.

Vents
Air conditioning installation needs vents to properly circulate the cool air into and throughout your home. If you have certain vents blocked off by obstructions, however, you're not going to get the kind of efficiency you need out of your system. Go around and make sure all of your vents are open and aren't being blocked by furniture, drapes, and other possible obstructions. The system is going to keep blowing cool air until the thermostat reaches the desired temperature. Don't make it work harder than it has to by blocking the air from reaching the house.

Fans
Ceiling fans can do a lot to help you take some of the strain off your A/C system. They cost much less to run in terms of electricity and they can more than double the effectiveness of the cool air you're getting from your central A/C. Put them in and turn them on to maximize your energy efficiency.