OPTIMIZING WINDOW AIR CONDITIONING UNITS
At Legacy Heating and Air Conditioning Services, we understand that not everyone is capable of installing central air conditioning in their homes. So if you’re using window air conditioners this summer, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Today we’ll be giving you some pro tips on how you can get the most out of your window unit air conditioner and turn your home into a cool, refreshing oasis!
USE FANS TO CIRCULATE AIR
One of the main problems when it comes to using a window air conditioning unit is that often times, the cool air produced by the unit is only flowing into the space directly in front of the air conditioner.
By using a fan to circulate the cool air around the room, you’ll notice two benefits. First, you’ll have a nice, cool breeze that’s being pushed around the room — not just in front of your unit. Secondly, fans give you the opportunity to maximize the cooling effects of your unit, especially if you only have one unit in your abode. Essentially, you can use a fan to direct the cool air coming from your air conditioner to wherever it’s needed most!
CLOSE YOUR DOORS
This is a big one. Because window air conditioning units can only cool a space down so much, it’s important that you’re setting yourself up for success. How can you do that? It’s simple. When you’re using a window air conditioner, it’s important to close doors, so you’re not wasting that precious, cold air.
There are two main strategies when deciding what doors to close. First off, if there’s one specific area you really want to keep cool, put the unit in that room, and close the door. That way, all of the air conditioner’s energy is being isolated into the area that you want to cool off.
On the flip side, if there are few rooms you want to cool down, you can focus on isolating rooms that are not a priority. By this we mean, if your unit is in the living room, and you want it to also cool down a bedroom that is connected, but not your kitchen or the unused guest room, simply close the doors to the kitchen and guest room. That way, cold air produced by the air conditioning won’t be wasted trying to cool down rooms that you’re not even using.
Also, make sure that whenever you’re going in and out of your home, you don’t leave the door open. Any time you open a door to the outside, hot air will come rushing in, raising the temperature more and more each second that it’s open.
INSULATE WINDOWS
If you’re using a window air conditioner, make sure that you’re not letting cold air escape through your windows! Now, yes, this means don’t have a window unit running on one side of the living room and the other windows in the room open, as any cold air will just be replaced by the hot air coming in from outside.
But going further, you can insulate your windows by utilizing curtains and drapes. Having curtains or drapes covering windows in your home will keep heat from coming through the glass of your windows, ultimately cooling your space even more!
Plus, curtains will block sunlight from entering the rooms you need to cool down, which will also help with maintaining your desired temperature.
LIMIT ELECTRONIC/APPLIANCE USE
The fact of the matter is, if you’re going to be using kitchen appliances, or electronics that use a lot of energy, they are going to give off heat. So in order to get the most out of your window AC unit, it’s important that you’re limiting the use of these items as much as possible.
For instance, instead of using the dryer to finish your laundry, hang dry your clothes! That way, the dryer won’t heat up your space, and you can stay cool and relaxed! Or, if you need to use the oven or stove top in your kitchen, do your best to isolate that room, so the heat coming off your appliances won’t radiate to the other rooms in your home.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR NEEDS
If you’re using a window air conditioning unit, assess how much space you’re trying to cool down, and make a decision accordingly. For instance, if you’re just concerned with keeping a small bedroom cool, you can purchase a small window unit, as it will be able to take care of that space. But if you’re trying to cool down multiple rooms (or a really large room for that matter), you’re going to want to invest in a larger, more powerful window unit or multiple units that you arrange throughout your home.
Not sure what unit to get? Don’t worry! Legacy Heating and Air Conditioning Services is here to take care of all your air conditioning needs. We specialize in air conditioning services like home air conditioning installations and air conditioning repair! Contact our HVAC services in Santa Clara, San Antonio, Marion, Canyon Lake, San Marcos, New Braunfels, New Seguin, and the surrounding areas, and let us help you stay cool this summer!