Maximize Your Window A/C's Efficiency This Summer

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emperatures are on the rise this time of year, and thus begins the few-months-long struggle to make the climate in your living space somewhat bearable. Window air conditioner units can seem small and ineffective, but with a little prep and a few tricks, you can make yours work to its full potential.

It helps to have a few fans set up to keep the cool air moving.

First things first, make sure that the area surrounding the unit gives clearance of about three feet on all sides. Shrubbery, weeds, tall grass, etc., all inhibit the unit's ability to cool. You'll also want to make sure the unit itself is clean—clean the unit's coil with a garden hose to knock off any debris, dust, and dirt. Also, clean/change the indoor filter so that when the hot air is sucked in, it has a place to go.

Other than making sure the air conditioner is clean, there are a few things you can do to help the cool air disperse a bit better. Putting a fan a few feet in front of the unit will help carry the cold air further away from the window, which will help cool a larger space. If you can, set up a few fans every 10-15 feet or so so that the cool air keeps a good flow.

Once your space is cooled off, you can lower the fan speed or bump the temperature on the unit up a couple degrees, as the already-existing air will help keep your home cool and it's  not really necessary to keep it running full blast, especially at night.

If you haven't yet purchased a window unit for your home, be sure to get one that's powerful enough to cool the amount of space you have—especially since many units look similar enough that you'd never know one was more powerful.