Reasons Your AC Is Costing More to Run

As air conditioners start to come on as the weather warms up, it’s a wise idea for homeowners to take a close look at how much their cooling systems cost to run and compare that to previous years. You may not have realized it, but your AC might be running up higher energy bills and draining more money than it should.

What causes an AC to turn inefficient? There are many different possibilities, and most of them come down to issues that are preventable thanks to regular maintenance. Make sure that you arrange for maintenance this spring to help keep your AC running at its most energy-friendly.

• System age: One of the biggest misconceptions that people have about air conditioners is that it’s better to keep operating an older system for as long as possible rather than have it replaced. Once an AC is older than 15 years, it will start to lose energy efficiency no matter how well it’s been maintained, and the cost to run it—combined with the price of frequent repairs—will far outweigh the cost of putting in a new system.
• Dirt along the coils: The outdoor coil of the system will rapidly collect dirt and grime during the year, making it harder for the air conditioner to release heat. Consequently, the system will have to work harder. Professionals will clean the coils if necessary during maintenance.
• Wear and tear on the motors: As the motors in an AC lose lubricant, they’ll drain more power in order to operate… and eventually, they’ll burn out. Maintenance technicians will see that the motors are properly lubricated and working their best.
• Leaking air ducts: This is a problem that comes from outside the air conditioner. Air ducts with holes can lose up to 30% of the air inside them—and that translates to a large waste of power. Professionals will need to seal the ducts to stop this problem.