Whenever you’re looking for a way to cut down on your cooling bill, you should learn whether or not your air conditioner is running efficiently. If you’re interested in economizing, this is a practical suggestion. Consider using this technique to get a better idea of how well your AC is running.
Find a Thermometer
The first step of determining whether your air conditioner is running as efficiently as possible is to get a thermometer. You can use an outdoor thermometer or one for cooking. The only kind that won’t work is one that will turn off after a short period of time such as the models that are typically used to measure whether a person has a fever.
Check the Temperature of the Intake Air
Next, turn the air conditioner on and let it run for a few minutes. During this time, you can find an intake register. You’ll be able to tell that it’s an intake register by holding a piece of paper near it. The air should suck the paper against the register. If it’s blowing the piece of paper away, that particular one is a supply register. Place the thermometer on the intake register for a few minutes to get a reading on the air temperature as it’s going in.
Check the Temperature of the Supply Air
The next step is to find one of the supply vents and take a temperature reading there. Hold the thermometer against the supply vent for about five minutes to get the temperature of the air as it comes out. The difference in temperature between the two places should be about 15 to 20 degrees. If it’s much less, your air conditioner isn’t efficient. If it’s much more, you might have something wrong with the air conditioner. Additionally, when you’re holding the piece of paper against the registers, the push or pull should be strong enough that it’s significantly moving the paper. If the pull or push is very weak, you should have someone inspect your air conditioner.
When you’re looking for an air conditioning or furnace technician, contact David White Services. We have offices in both Lancaster and Athens, and we can handle any HVAC installation, repair or maintenance service. We can clean your ducts as well. Call us today.
