Saving energy on your heating and air conditioning bill in Oakland California takes cutting air conditioning use during those hot summer months. However, you do not have to sit in your house and be miserable through the summer just to escape those terrible bills. For example, if you only need to cool one room in your house, shut that central air conditioning unit off!
A better idea would be to use a split unit instead. This is especially feasible if you are using only one room to sleep in at night; you surely do not need to cool the entire house. The split units have a good efficiency rating and they will cool your room effectively with only using a fraction of the energy as your much bigger central unit. In addition you have selective control over the temperature of the rooms you are working in. Just be sure that the compressor outside is well ventilated and well shaded. Plants, dirt and twigs up against the unit will diminish the air flow to the compressor. Be sure that you also clean the cooling fins at regular intervals so that they are as free from dust and leaves as possible. Once the air flow is restricted, your entire unit can burn out fairly quickly.
At least once every month, you should clean the air filter on your unit. Many
people grab a brush or a broom for this job, but that is not a good idea! You also should not use a broom or a vacuum. Mold can build up inside the unit and can spread through the house if it is not removed thoroughly. The safest and most effective way to clean is to use a chemical wash on the blower blades and cooling coils. Products that you use should have anti viral and anti bacterial characteristics. Dont use conventional caustic hydroxide products that are used by air conditioning services. If you dont clean the unit correctly, you can cause hazardous VOCs to be produced, which potentially could make you fall ill.
Whenever you do use your central air conditioning in Oakland California, make sure that all of your A/C ducts are properly sealed to prevent precious cold air from escaping to places where it is not needed. You also will want to insulate the ducts that run through the rooms that you do not need it in, such as the basement. If you have an air conditioning unit in Oakland California that is more than 7 or 8 years old, you need to have it replaced with a more modern, more energy efficient unit. Can you believe that just by replacing your unit you could potentially save up to 50 percent of your air conditioning bill in Oakland California.