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Why Are My Cooling Costs So High?

cooing-costs-high-whyOur winters may reach bitterly cold temperatures, but that doesn’t mean we get much relief during the summer. That’s right: each summer you’ll see higher electrical bills than you would in the spring or fall. This is because you’ll be constantly running your air conditioner, and your HVAC systems account for about half of all your energy costs! The electricity needed to run your AC motors and the compressor certainly does add up and can leave you feeling pretty broke during the summer.

But are you spending more than you should be on your cooling costs? If your bills start to rise higher than what you saw last year, or are more expensive in comparison to your neighbors despite comparable use, then something may be amiss with your cooling system. While in some cases this may necessitate a Clearfield, UT air conditioning repair, the problem may be simpler to solve than that. Keep reading to learn more!

You May Have a Clogged Air Filter

You might be surprised by how much a clogged air filter will affect the performance of your air conditioner. This filter is in place to protect the inside components of your cooling system, and clogs up over time, which restricts airflow and causes your air conditioner to work harder to do its job.

What’s happening is that the fan motor is struggling. But this can be resolved by changing your air filter on a regular basis. We recommend every 1–3 months during periods of consistent HVAC use!

Skipped Maintenance Appointment

We say it often, and for good reason: an air conditioner—any air conditioner—must have annual maintenance to remain in top shape. In fact, if you use a heat pump like so many Utah residents do, then you’ll want to invest in this service twice a year. If you skip maintenance, wear and tear will soon get a foothold on your AC and cause it to decline in efficiency.

Air Leaks in Your Ductwork

It could be that you don’t have a problem with your actual air conditioning unit at all, but rather with the ductwork making its way through your attic or crawlspace. If your ductwork has any loose connections or breaches throughout it, then conditioned air may be leaking into unoccupied spaces in your home. So, your air conditioner struggles to meet your desired temperature and keeps running long after it would have normally cycled off.

Poor Quality Installation

If you did not have your air conditioner installed by trained professionals in the first place, then you could have efficiency problems from the get-go. Your air conditioner may be inappropriately sized for your home: too large of a system will create just as big of a problem as too small of a system.

Our expert technicians use what is called a heat load calculation, which considers a number of factors to determine what size air conditioner is best for your home. We can also help you determine what model of system is best for your needs. If you do find that this is the cause of your efficiency problem and you need an AC replacement, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.

Contact your HVAC and plumbing experts at Rentmeister Total Home Service today!

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