Over the past few days, many families have been surprised to receive increased electricity bills compared to previous months, despite using electrical devices such as fans, air conditioners, microwaves, and refrigerators as usual. Mr. L.Q from Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City, said: “Normally, my monthly electricity bill is about 1.2 million VND, but last month I received a bill of over 2 million VND, which shocked me.”
Ms. T.H from District 4, Ho Chi Minh City, complained: “Normally, my household consumes around 1.4 to 1.5 million VND of electricity per month, but last month it increased to 2.1 million VND, and looking at the bill was astonishing.” Ms. V.P from Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, also mentioned that her family only stays at home in the evening and on weekends, and normally the electricity bill is around 400,000 – 500,000 VND, but last month it increased to over 800,000 VND.
Ho Chi Minh City is currently in the rainy season, but the common weather is still hot and sunny. To cool the air, many families use air conditioners. Some even have the habit of using air conditioners all year round, but the electricity bill still increases during the hot season. So how can we save electricity when using air conditioners during the hot season?
You should not set the temperature too cold, but rather maintain it between 25 – 29 degrees Celsius Image: Dieu Mi |
Mr. Bui Minh Sang (technical support from Dien May Xanh) said that hot and sunny weather is one of the factors that increase the energy consumption of air conditioners because they need a long time to cool down the room temperature. Therefore, Mr. Sang provides 10 effective ways to save electricity when using air conditioners during the hot season:
1. Don’t set the temperature too cold at night
While sleeping, you don’t need the temperature to be as cold as when you are awake. Therefore, to save electricity, adjust the air conditioner to a moderate temperature range of 25 – 29 degrees Celsius 1 – 2 hours before going to bed. This way, the air conditioner will have to run less and consume less energy.
2. Use an air conditioner with the appropriate capacity for the room size
Choose an air conditioner with a capacity that matches the size (or volume) of the room to ensure the cooling capacity of the air conditioner and optimize the energy consumption.
When buying an air conditioner, you should go to reputable stores for thorough consultation before making a purchase. This not only helps you save electricity, but also keeps the air conditioner durable and stable.
Note that if you choose a larger capacity air conditioner for a small room, it will consume more electricity. Conversely, if you use a small-capacity air conditioner for a large room, it will take a long time to cool down and the compressor will run continuously, impacting the lifespan of the machine and consuming a lot of electricity.
Normally, for rooms under 15m2, you should choose a 1HP air conditioner; for rooms from 15 – 20m2, choose a 1.5HP air conditioner; for rooms from 20 – 30m2, choose a 2HP air conditioner, and so on, with the condition that the ceiling height is not higher than 3m. If the ceiling is higher, you can calculate and choose the air conditioner based on the room volume.
“During the cool season, the air conditioner takes less time to cool down, so it runs at a lower frequency and saves more electricity. In hot weather, the compressor has to run for a long time to compensate for the room temperature, and if the room is exposed to sunlight, it loses heat, causing the air conditioner to run more frequently,” shared Mr. Sang.
3. Close the door when using the air conditioner
If you use the air conditioner with the door open, the cold air will escape and the outside temperature will affect the room temperature. As a result, the air conditioner will have to run more and consume more electricity.
Make sure to close the door when using the air conditioner Image illustration: Shutterstock |
Therefore, you should make sure that the room door is closed when turning on the air conditioner, which helps prolong the lifespan of the machine and save monthly electricity costs for your family. In addition to closing the door, you can use fabric panels to seal any gaps under the door to ensure that the cold air does not escape too much.
4. Clean the air conditioner regularly at least every 3 months
Just preserving the air conditioner well is not enough. To ensure optimal operation, you need to call for maintenance services. This can reduce the operating capacity of the air conditioner by up to 15%, resulting in significant energy savings and extending the lifespan of the machine.
The frequency of maintenance depends on the environment and frequency of use throughout the year. According to air conditioning experts, it is recommended to have the air conditioner maintained every 3 – 4 months (depending on the frequency of use). In addition, you can also choose air conditioners with self-cleaning features, which allow you to manage the time, save costs for calling technicians, and ensure the health of your family.
According to Mr. Sang, the frequency of air conditioner cleaning depends on how often you use it and the presence of dust in the environment. The outdoor unit and indoor unit of the air conditioner work to dissipate heat, and dust can accumulate on the heat exchanger fins. When the dust accumulates, the air conditioner’s performance will be affected, impacting the compressor’s efficiency. Dust accumulation on the indoor unit’s filter mesh restricts airflow, causing the air output to be weak and clogging the water drains, resulting in water leakage from the air conditioner.
5. Check the pipelines and shield the outdoor unit
Sometimes, dust can accumulate inside the pipelines or the pipelines may have leaks, which can also affect the cooling system of the air conditioner and consume a lot of electricity.
Moreover, when installing the outdoor unit, if possible, choose a shady location and shield it from direct sunlight to reduce the amount of heat transferred to the outdoor unit and accelerate the cooling process. If you cannot find a cool location for installation, you can use heat-resistant fabric panels to shield the unit.
Experts recommend that the outdoor unit should be installed at least 30cm away from the wall. If the unit is installed too close to the wall, it will release heat and affect the room temperature, making the air conditioner work at a higher capacity to cool down the room.
6. Rearrange objects to prevent obstructing air circulation
Although air conditioners have air fins that help direct cool air in the desired direction, it is still best to arrange objects neatly to prevent blocking the airflow. This will help you feel cooler and consume less electricity.
7. Set the room temperature appropriately
A temperature range of 23 to 27 degrees Celsius is suitable for the optimal operation of your air conditioner. It doesn’t consume too much electricity while maintaining a moderate and comfortable temperature.
8. Avoid direct sunlight into the room
Avoid heat exchange with the outside when using the air conditioner. Sunlight can increase the room temperature, causing the air conditioner to run more frequently and consume more energy.
Make sure to adjust the temperature appropriately to save electricity Image: S.D |
Keeping the room completely closed prevents sunlight from entering the room and causing the room temperature to rise too high. You can use light-colored curtains to block sunlight and reduce heat absorption.
9. Don’t turn off the air conditioner if you will be out for a short period
Constantly turning the air conditioner on and off will consume a significant amount of electricity for restarting and cooling the room again from the beginning.
10. Use a fan in combination with the air conditioner
The fan helps circulate cool air from the air conditioner in the room, which means you don’t need to set the temperature too low, resulting in less energy consumption. Moreover, the fan consumes less electricity than the air conditioner, so using both devices together will save a lot of energy.
These are some ways to save electricity when using air conditioners during the hot season. Try applying them in your family and see the results.
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