The sweltering heat of the summer months makes you rely on your air conditioning system more and more. However, even when your air conditioner is running well, it might not be pumping out cold air the way it should – or used to. If you feel like your air conditioner isn’t doing its job, the problem may be due to some inefficiencies in your AC system.

When a faulty air conditioner is not working efficiently, your energy consumption could skyrocket to unmanageable levels. Not only is this harmful for the environment, but the air conditioner inefficiency will have a negative impact on your energy utility bills as well. If your utility bills are higher than expected, the main culprit could be an inefficient air conditioner.

To maximize your air conditioner efficiency, make sure you understand the different AC components and how to keep them functioning optimally. A professional HVAC service can inspect your air conditioning system to ensure all the components are working optimally.

For additional help, below are five tips to improve your air conditioner efficiency in a smart way:

1. Clean the air conditioner.

As with any other household appliance, air conditioners get dirty. Grime, dirt, dust, and other gunk can and will build up in your AC, making it difficult for fresh air to get out and cool you down. To make sure this does not happen, you should be cleaning the air conditioner on a regular basis. This type of air conditioner maintenance should occur a few times during the season.

Before cleaning, make sure you turn off the electricity flowing to the air conditioner. This is to prevent electrocuting yourself or shorting a fuse. After cleaning, let the moisture dry and then turn the unit back on. You should be able to feel a noticeable difference in temperature afterwards.

2. Clean or replace the air conditioner’s filters.

A dirty air conditioning filter could slow down the airflow of the unit. When dirt and other debris build up in your air conditioner’s filter, the system will use more energy since it must work harder to supply you with the same quality of cold air.

The dirty air filters can be cleaned or replaced. There may be a need to replace the filters if their physical condition deteriorated significantly. You can use your judgement when it comes to how often you do this, but once every month is a good rule of thumb.

3. Clear any obstacles to the airflow.

Debris can compromise the overall efficiency of your air conditioner. The air conditioner should be cleared of any debris that interferes with the unit. It’s a good idea to make sure that no trees, shrubbery, and other foliage could be blocking off the unit’s air vents. The goal is to unblock any obstacles to the ventilation and maintain a steady flow of air for maximum air conditioning efficiency.

The air conditioner fins keep the cold air flowing smoothly out of the AC and into your home. If you haven’t been enjoying the same cool air that you are used to, open your air conditioner and inspect the fins. If they are twisted, bent, or broken, you’ve found the culprit. Once the fins are returned to their normal state, you should have better airflow from your air conditioner.

4. Keep your air conditioner away from the sun.

Your air conditioner may be exposed to hours of direct sunlight on a bright and sunny day. The natural heat from the sun may contribute to the inefficiencies of the AC system. When your air conditioner is in contact with the sun, it must work overtime to cool and condense the refrigerant coming out of the compressor discharging the heat from your home.

Both central air conditioning machines and window units need to be kept away from the direct glare of the sun as much as possible. Try to place either unit on the east or north side of the house in order to accomplish this. If there are any trees nearby, they can provide some shade onto your AC units.

5. Adjust your thermostat upwards.

During a cooler summer, you can adjust your thermostat temperatures upwards by a few degrees. This setting could save you some money, since you are using less resources from the air conditioner. Whether you can tolerate a warmer room temperature depends on your personal temperament. Most people won’t notice a significant difference in room temperature if you only increase it by one or two degrees.

If you have a programmable thermostat in your household, you can automatically adjust the indoor temperatures to reflect the different times in a day. During the hours when you are away from the home, adjust the thermostat appropriately to ease the pressure off your electricity utility bills.

If your air conditioner is showing signs of wear and tear, there are many risks involved with keeping an old air conditioner running in your home. In addition to an old system being prone to malfunctions and diminished efficiency, it’s also more likely to just stop working altogether.  

An entirely new air conditioning unit can be expensive and is a significant financial investment. Many people are reluctant to go through with a new unit, especially if your current one doesn’t look that bad. You may have convinced yourself to put up with the old air conditioner for a while longer, just to save yourself the money and the hassle. However, there are many risks for keeping an old air conditioner.  

Below are 8 dangers of old air conditioner that may persuade you to replace it with a new one as soon as possible: 

1. Old Air Conditioners & Bacteria

Not only will an old air conditioner work with less efficiency, there are significant health risks posed by running an old AC unit. Rain and hot temperatures make these air conditioning systems breeding grounds for bacteria. Old units tend to build up bacteria, fungi, and pollen over time. These microorganisms continue to increase over the period that the system is in use. 

Although not all types of fungi can produce infections, there are plenty of dangerous types that find their way into the airflow and intake ducts. To minimize these old air conditioner dangers, routine cleaning and maintenance should be performed on a regular basis. 

2. Respiratory Health Risks Related to Old Air Conditioners

While there are many people that have strong, healthy immune systems, not everyone can withstand poor air quality. For people suffering from medical conditions such as bronchitis or asthma, where an old AC unit can be a threat to their health. They can be highly susceptible to lung infections or asthmatic flare ups. 

Since your AC unit pushes air throughout your entire home, it is easy for bacteria to spread through the air, reducing the air quality. If they continuously breathe in these harmful toxins for a long period of time, it will only make their pre-existing respiratory problems even worse. A way to fix this and lessen the risks is to repair, clean or replace old air conditioners.  

3. Old Air Conditioners Contain Ozone-Depleting Refrigerants

A lot of air conditioners in homes older than a decade are original systems. Your AC unit could be and most likely is older than your current kitchen appliances. While a lot of old technology contains volatile chemicals that are horrible for the environment (think Freon in retro fridges). This can go for your AC unit as well. Many old air conditioners contain ozone-depleting refrigerants, which are unsafe for home use.

In the last few years, a lot of these old units have been phased out, but many older homes still have old air conditioners that contain harmful chemicals. Modern air conditioning systems contain much more environmentally friendly and contain ozone-friendly refrigerants.

4. Old Air Conditioners Are a Fire Hazard

The mere fact your air conditioner is old means it probably has outdated parts, such as broken fans or faulty heating pipes. If these parts aren’t working properly, excessive heat may accumulate within your AC system, causing temperatures to rise to a dangerous level. This will increase your chances of the system catching on fire. 

The electrical wiring in air conditioning systems will also deteriorate over time. The wiring is often hidden somewhere within the unit, making it difficult for you to check it yourself. Because they’re hard to diagnose, these issues can go unnoticed very easily. It only makes sense that old wiring systems can be a major fire hazard.  

5. Sickness Caused by Old Air Conditioners

If you ever walked into a building and felt like it was making you feel sick, you have experienced a phenomenon called the ‘sick building syndrome’. This sickness is associated with a range of unrelated symptoms that include skin irritation, headaches, breathing problems, nasal congestion, and fatigue.

The sick building syndrome is caused by a buildup of airborne microorganisms in air conditioning units. Some people are more sensitive to these effects than others, especially if they have a pre-existing condition.

6. Old Air Conditioners Equal High Electricity Bills

Besides the physical danger of an old air conditioner, the fiscal risks are also worth mentioning. The older an air conditioner gets, the less energy efficient it becomes. The electricity bill of a 10-year old air conditioner is higher than that of a newly installed one.

Newer air conditioning units tend to be more efficient in energy consumption. Some of these new air conditioning units are equipped with energy saving features that had not been discovered when the current air conditioner was installed. Replacing your old AC unit means you get to enjoy the advanced features that will save you money on utility bills.

7. Temperatures Could Become Unbearable

It makes sense that old air conditioners may not run as they once did, and it’s true. Due to factors such as wear and tear, an old air conditioner can’t perform the way it used to. This means temperatures in your home could get extremely unbearable, either too hot or too cold. Apart from making your home uncomfortable, an old air conditioner means you’ll spend money on operating a system not doing the job it was built to do. In this case, making the investment in a new unit would be the best option. 

8. Old Air Conditioners Break Down Easier

Even if your AC unit has been working well the last 20 years, it’s no excuse to keep it. As old air conditioners can contain a variety of toxins, chemicals and more. Your air conditioning unit won’t last forever. After consecutive years of hard work, the parts will eventually start wearing out one way or another. Some of these repairs may be minor, while others could be a lot more serious and severe.

Either way, spending money to constantly repair an old air conditioning unit is not wise. You are better off disposing the old air conditioner and replacing the system altogether.