Your air conditioner is a complex piece of equipment. Ideally, the system you have is delivering all the conditioned air you want without spiking your utility bills. But if you’ve noticed that your air conditioner’s performance has declined while your bills have gone up, you may be thinking about a replacement. Whether you replace it or not, here are five ways you can boost air conditioner efficiency.

• Choose a dual-speed model. A two-speed air conditioner can run on low speed most of the time, minimizing your energy consumption. When it gets very hot, and you need more cooling, the air conditioner can ramp up to full speed. This two-speed feature means your system won’t cycle on and off too frequently, and it will last longer.
• Get a model with an energy efficiency ratio that’s greater than 11.6. The EER is the ratio of cooling capacity to electrical input. Units with a rating that’s higher than 10 are considered the most efficient.
• Seal your ductwork. A leaky duct system can cause you to lose as much as 30 percent of your conditioned air. It will cost you more to cool your home. Just as important — and perhaps even more important — pollutants can enter your air stream via leaks in the ductwork.
• Change the air filter. A dirty air filter keeps your air conditioner from doing its job. Your system must work harder. In a worst-case scenario, your system will break down before it should, causing you to have to replace it prematurely.
• Install a programmable thermostat, which will automatically raise the temperature of your home when you’re gone and lower it again shortly before you return. This will yield automatic savings.

For more help in the Denver Metro area, contact the Rheem Pro Partner. We have been helping the Denver community since 1992.