Filters, Thermostat Settings And Your Pensacola Power Bill
In Pensacola the air conditioner runs for most of the year, so small inefficiencies add up on the power bill. The two simplest things you can do about that are keeping the filter clean and setting the thermostat sensibly. Neither needs a technician. When the bill stays high after both, something else is wrong, and that is when our technicians come in. Call (850) 805-7098. Here is what works in this climate.
Filters
ENERGY STAR recommends checking the filter every month and changing or cleaning it when it is dirty. During Pensacola's long cooling season, when the system runs for hours every day, and in spring pollen season, monthly changes are often needed. Buy the size printed on the old filter's frame, and point the airflow arrow toward the unit. Pleated filters catch more than flat fibreglass ones, but very high-rated filters can restrict airflow on some systems, so check what your system can handle; our technicians can confirm it at a tune-up.
Thermostat settings
The Department of Energy says setting the thermostat back 7 to 10°F for eight hours a day can save as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling. Pick the warmest summer setting you are comfortable with while you are home, and raise it while you are out. In Pensacola, do not turn the system off entirely on a humid day or set it so high it never runs: humidity builds up indoors. Keep the fan on Auto, not On, so water drips off the coil instead of blowing back into the house.
Humidity
The EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent, to discourage mould. In Pensacola's muggy season, which runs from about mid-April to late October, that is mostly the air conditioner's job. A simple hygrometer tells you where you stand. If the house feels cold and clammy, the system may be oversized, the fan may be running constantly, or the ducts may be pulling in attic air.
When settings do not help
If the filter is clean, the thermostat is set sensibly and the house still will not cool, the bill is climbing, or humidity stays high, the problem is inside the system: a low refrigerant charge, a dirty coil, a failing capacitor or leaking ductwork. That is a job for professionals, and our team will ensure it is handled properly. Our tune-ups and thermostats page covers what our technicians check.
When the basics are not enough, reach out to our team at (850) 805-7098.