Save Electricity with Energy Saving Tips for Your Aircon

In Singapore's relentless tropical heat, a powerful air conditioner becomes a necessity for a cool and comfortable home. But that comfort often comes with the shock of a high electricity bill at the end of the month. 

The good news is that you don’t have to choose between staying cool and saving money. By adopting smarter habits and ensuring your aircon unit is well-maintained, you can enjoy a cool home environment while significantly cutting down on energy costs. This practical guide shares simple, actionable energy saving tips to help you optimise your aircon’s performance and save electricity at home.

1. Optimising Temperature and Settings

One of the easiest ways to reduce your aircon's energy consumption is by managing its settings intelligently. A small adjustment can lead to significant savings over time.

• Set the Optimal Temperature: The sweet spot for balancing comfort and energy efficiency is 25°C. For every degree you raise the temperature, you can save a substantial amount on your electricity bill. This setting is recommended by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and is comfortable for most people in Singapore’s climate.
• Find the Best Mode for AC to Save Electricity: Your remote is a powerful tool. While "Cool" mode is the default, it's not always the most efficient. On humid but less hot days, switching to "Dry" mode is the best mode for AC to save electricity. It focuses on removing excess moisture from the air, which makes the room feel much more comfortable without running the compressor at full power. For times when you just need air circulation, using "Fan" mode alone is the most energy-efficient option.
• Use the Timer Function: Use the built-in timer to automatically switch your aircon off after you've fallen asleep or when you know the room will be empty. Running your aircon for even one hour less per day adds up to significant savings.

2. Maximising Cooling Efficiency

Don't let your hard-earned cool air escape. Making your room an enclosed environment ensures your aircon doesn't have to work overtime to maintain the temperature.

• Keep Doors and Windows Closed: This is a simple but critical step. When your aircon is running, any open door or window allows cool air to escape and warm air to enter, forcing your unit to work harder and consume more power.
• Block Out Direct Sunlight: Windows, especially those facing west, can let in a tremendous amount of heat. Use curtains or blinds during the hottest parts of the day to block direct sunlight, reducing the heat gain in your room and easing the load on your aircon.
• Turn Off Heat-Generating Appliances: Lights, computers, televisions, and other electronic devices generate heat. Turning them off when not in use will reduce the overall heat in the room, allowing your aircon to cool the space more quickly and efficiently.

3. Periodic Aircon Maintenance

An unmaintained air conditioner is an energy guzzler. Over time, clogged filters, dirty coils, and incorrect refrigerant levels force the unit's compressor to work much harder to produce the same amount of cool air, leading directly to higher energy consumption.

Regular, professional aircon servicing is essential for keeping your unit in peak condition. For most households in Singapore, servicing every 3 to 6 months is ideal. During an aircon service, technicians perform several tasks that directly contribute to energy efficiency, such as chemically cleaning coils, checking for refrigerant leaks, and ensuring all components are functioning correctly.

DIY Maintenance Tips

Between professional servicing appointments, you can perform simple maintenance yourself. The most important task is to regularly clean your aircon's filters (at least once a month). Simply remove the filters, wash them gently with water, and let them dry completely before placing them back. Clean filters dramatically improve airflow, reducing the strain on your aircon and helping you save electricity.

4. Leverage Natural Ventilation Strategically

You don't need to run your aircon 24/7. Using natural airflow strategically can significantly reduce your reliance on it.

• Air Out Your Home: During cooler parts of the day, like the early morning or late at night, turn off your aircon and open your windows and doors. This allows fresh, cool air to circulate through your home, reducing stale air and lowering the indoor temperature naturally.
• Use Fans with Your Aircon: This is one of the most effective energy saving tips. A ceiling or standing fan doesn't cool the air, but it creates a wind-chill effect that makes you feel cooler. By using a fan, you can set your aircon to a higher temperature (e.g., 26-27°C) and feel just as comfortable, allowing you to save electricity without any loss of comfort.

Beyond Usage: Other Factors Contributing to Energy Savings

While smart habits and maintenance are key, other factors can impact your energy bills from day one.

Proper aircon installation is critical. An incorrectly sized unit or a poor installation with leaky piping can doom your aircon to inefficiency for its entire lifespan. Ensuring a professional handles your initial aircon installation guarantees that the unit operates at its maximum potential efficiency.

Ultimately, the path to lower electricity bills is a combination of smart usage, DIY care, and professional maintenance. By following these energy saving tips, you take control of your consumption. By entrusting your unit to experts, you ensure it runs at its best.

Save Energy with Professional Aircon Servicing and Installation

Partnering with a trusted professional is the ultimate way to guarantee long-term energy savings and system reliability. As a leading aircon company in Singapore, 81 Aircon provides expert services covering the full lifecycle of your cooling system. Our reliable aircon servicing keeps your current unit running at peak efficiency, while our professional aircon installation ensures any new system is set up to save you money from day one.

Ready to take control of your electricity bills? Schedule your next aircon servicing with 81 Aircon today. Be sure to check out our latest aircon promo for even greater value. For a long-term solution, contact our team for a no-obligation consultation on our energy-efficient aircon systems.