Happy anniversary air conditioning!
SIt’s been 116 years since the birth of modern air conditioning. Ironically, it’s older than Las Vegas itself!
The first commercial AC system was unveiled in 1902, where it was introduced to control humidity in a printing plant. Previous attempts date back to Roman times when water was circulated through walls to cool the interiors of only the richest citizens. Other largely inefficient and expensive efforts include transporting massive amounts of snow from nearby mountains — an exercise that holds true today in its “spare no expense” attitude towards cooling our world in the hot summer months.
In Las Vegas, our first AC-equipped building was the El Portal Theater on Fremont Street, which surely made it a popular venue for whiling away on a hot afternoon.
How to save money on AC
Statistically, about 65 percent of our total energy use in the summer can be attributed to air conditioning. This means, of course, it is a big part of what we pay for in terms of electricity.
Raise your thermostat
To save money and reduce energy costs, many people choose to keep their thermostat a little higher than the recommended 78 degrees. In truth, every degree lower will increase your average energy bill by about 2.5 percent, so if you raise your thermostat by two degrees, you could potentially save 5 percent overall.
Install a ceiling fan
Ceiling fans don’t add any efficiency to your AC, but they do help keep you cooler, which means you may refrain from lowering the thermostat.
Don’t run appliances during the heat of the day
Major appliances, such as washers and dryers, give off a great deal of heat. This may contribute to the heat inside your home, so running your laundry at night may reduce the burden on your AC system.
Install a smart thermostat
A smart thermostat is a great way to increase the efficiency of your AC system and save money at the same time. You will be able to access and adjust your thermostat via a smartphone app, meaning you can reduce your energy load when you are not at home. You can pre-program them to turn on just before you come home and shut off when you’re at work. Some may even be able to let you know when service is needed or filters need to be replaced.
Tips for keeping your AC unit working great
Here are a few tips to get the most out of your AC system:
- If possible, install your unit in a shady place. This can extend the life of your condensing fan motor by about double. In Las Vegas, this part needs to be replaced every 5 to 10 years, on average.
- Get your unit inspected every year to ensure it is in good working order.
- Change air filters regularly, every 30 or 90 days.
- Hose down your outdoor condensing units on a yearly basis to clear it of dirt and dust.
- Remove bushes and weeds in a two-foot diameter around your condenser to promote unobstructed airflow.
- Unless you have severe allergies or respiratory issues, don’t use the pleated filters as they will make your unit work harder.
AC Plus has been providing quality air conditioning service in Las Vegas for more than two decades. For any type of AC installation, sales, service or maintenance, call us first. You’ll be glad you did.
