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How to Save Electricity Using Window Type Aircon

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Do you own a window-type air conditioner and wonder, how to save electricity using a window-type aircon?  As consumers, our ultimate goal is to optimize the use of our appliances on a daily basis. It is a monthly struggle for us to save more money while consuming less and benefitting more. But once summer vacation starts, our careful electricity consumption crumbles immediately. 

In the Philippines, energy consumption always peaks during the dry season. According to the Department of Energy, the largest demand for electricity is often observable at 10 a.m. The main perpetrators are usually refrigerators and ACs. These increase our monthly bill, along with our other appliances.

In order to drastically lower our electrical expenses, during a hot summer day, we can always switch our central AC unit to a window-type. You may expect to save a lot of money on your summer cooling expenses while also conserving electricity.

Luckily, we can always find ways to optimize its cooling capacity, without using more electricity. Here are some useful tips you can follow.


Does My Window Air Conditioner Use a Lot Of Electricity?

How to Save Electricity Using Window Type Aircon

In comparison to central ACs, window types have fewer energy costs. At least ⅓ of the central aircon’s energy consumption is the standard power use of a window-type AC unit.

But if you house more than one bulky appliance, a window type is not suited for you. This type of AC unit is only ideal for small spaces. While it can quickly produce cool air, it may not be enough if it needs to cover a lot of space for your house. Thus, your electricity bill may gradually increase.

With this information, we will not be too overwhelmed in case someone will ask, how to save electricity using window-type aircon? Especially if they are planning to install one someday.


How Can I Save Electricity On My Window Air Conditioning Unit?

How to Save Electricity Using Window Type Aircon

Without a doubt, our electricity bills come first than our personal comfort. Most times, it’s much of a hassle to invest more in our electricity bill than manually cooling ourselves with hand fans. 

But if you’re planning to invest in a window-type AC, then here are some useful tips to help you save money while enjoying the refreshing and cold air of your AC unit.

1. Regular Maintenance Of Aircon Filter

Like most air conditioners, it is important to always monitor the cooling and heating system of your window-type AC unit. This is one of the key components that ensure your family is safe from harmful air pollutants, pollens, and malodors.

Conduct regular maintenance by cleaning your AC filter. Not only it will help you save your electricity bills, but it will also lessen your risk of getting sick by up to 70%. Take note that, dirty filters and air vents will make your unit work harder. This increases the energy consumption but decreases the cooling experience in your room.

2. Seal Rooms & Shut Devices

As a rule of thumb, it is customary to close the window where the AC unit is installed. Make sure to put blinds or hang long thick curtains on your windows, to prevent direct sunlight from entering your space. The added temperature will only yield higher energy costs because your window-type AC will only work more to keep the room cool.

Additionally, appliances such as refrigerators and computers increase heat constantly. One alternative is to shut either of the devices if you want to optimize the cooling capacity of your window AC.

3. Let Your Fan Help Your Air Conditioner

Don’t hesitate to use electric fans. The fan consumes less power than the air conditioner and can be used as a backup. Ceiling fans improve energy efficiency and cooling experience because they help ventilate the area. Most of the time, people lower the temperature and turn on the fan mode of window ACs to quickly cool the place. However, making it do all the work will only lead to more energy consumed and higher cooling bills. 

Unlike other air conditioners, electric fans can also be used as backup cooling devices during days when the sun is not too much to handle. You can still freshen up your room, without the need of turning on your AC.

4. Switch On and Switch Off Your Window Type AC

Overnight use of AC will potentially increase your electricity bill. This is most likely due to the cooling system keeping your room warm overnight.  Not to mention, you will sometimes find yourself shivering in the middle of the night. If this happens, you can turn off the device, after allowing it to warm up for an hour. Your room will stay cooled-down because your window AC spent a lot of time cooling it up while you were sleeping.

5. Avoid Heat Buildup During the Day

Sometimes the best way to be energy efficient during summer is by regularly taking a bath. If your household can afford it, then installing an exhaust fan in the bathroom can help reduce extra humidity. In most cases, you can do your daily chores like drying the clothes or grilling at nighttime when the temps are cooler.


What Is the Most Efficient Way To Use a Window-Type AC Unit?

How to Save Electricity Using Window Type Aircon

Now that you know how to keep your room cool, without consuming more energy, you need to ensure your window AC is energy efficient to experience its optimal cooling capacity. Here are some other tips to efficiently use your window-type AC.

1. Insulate and Seal Your Doors and Windows

Make sure to insulate the surrounding area where your window AC is installed. Proper insulation will help prevent unwanted leakages from your cooling device. This helps you keep the room well-ventilated during summertime without comprising your electric bill. When insulating, remember to keep your aircon away from direct sunlight. If the insulation is done right, it will potentially reduce your electric bill up to 40% while optimizing its cooling capacity. 

2. Rearrange Your Room’s Furniture For Better Airflow

To further increase the efficiency of your window AC, rearranging your room can improve its airflow. Check your vent if it needs to be replaced or restructured to maintain the air conditioning quality of your house. This will potentially increase your relaxation time by decreasing the excess moisture in the room. 

3. Use Timers and Thermostats

You can use timers and thermostats to further reduce your electricity bills because they show the amount of energy used by your air conditioner. Ideally, you can set your thermostat between 22 and 24 degrees during summer vacation. On the other hand, timed thermostats will automatically set the temperature of your window AC depending on how long you want to maintain a certain cooling experience.


Final Note

In most cases, we tend to sacrifice our own comfort to save more money for other personal gains. In retrospect, the act of saving money is for us to be more comfortable, like buying AC units, refrigerators, and the like. But at the end of the day, we will always be faced with questions on how to save electricity using a window-type aircon or what should I know before buying an AC. Owning a window-type aircon is good, but it will be much more efficient if we can own it in the most economic way possible.

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JP Reyes

JP has been in the aircon industry for almost as long as he has been alive. As a child JP would help his tatay fix aircon units at their junk shop in Cavite. After graduating UP in the early 2000's, JP then started his own Aircon servicing business and within 5 years had 10 shops in 8 different cities. Fast forward to today and JP brings all his experience and expertise online to give readers trustworthy advice and reviews about Air-conditioning buying, servicing, cleaning and repair in the Philippines.

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