How Many Watts Does an AC Use? 5 Easy Ways to Lower Your Electricity Bill in Summer
When summer temperatures rise, one of the largest components making up your household’s electricity bill will come from using the air conditioning system. How much power your air conditioning unit uses will depend upon many factors such as its size, energy rating, how long it is operated for each day, and the condition of the room being cooled. By knowing how much power your air conditioning unit will use, you can reduce the amount of money spent on energy without giving up the comfort provided by the air conditioning.
How Many Watts Does an AC Use?
- 1-Ton Unit: will consume between 900-1200 watts
- 1-1/2 Ton Unit: will consume between 1200-1800 watts
- 2-Ton Unit: will consume between 1800-2500 watts
1. Set the Temperature Between 24°C and 26°C
Many people set their A/C unit to 16° C, but this doesn’t cause the room to cool down faster. By setting your thermostat between 24° & 26° C, you’ll be using less electricity while improving the efficiency of the unit.
2. Clean the Air Filters Regularly
Dirt buildup on a filter in an air conditioning unit reduces the ability for the unit to get adequate airflow and causes the unit to consume more energy in order to cool a room. Cleaning the filter in your Air-conditioning Unit every 2-3 weeks helps keep your unit working well with less energy consumption for cooling the room.
3. Use Ceiling Fans with the AC
Using a ceiling fan in conjunction with your Air-conditioning Unit provides better circulation of the cool air, allowing you to adjust your thermostat to a higher temperature and be comfortable.
4. Keep Doors and Windows Closed
Whenever you operate your Air-conditioning Unit, always keep all the windows and doors closed so no cool air can escape. You can also help minimize the escape of cool air from your home by closing the blinds and curtains, which will limit how much direct sunlight can enter your home.
5. Turn Off the AC When Not Needed
Use timers or sleep mode on your unit overnight, and turn off your unit when no one is in the area to conserve energy when not needed.
Conclusion
Air conditioning units can use between 900 W and 2500 W of energy based on the model/size. Choosing proper temperature settings, cleaning filters, and improving airflow will help reduce heat load in the space.
FAQs
Does setting a thermostat at (16 degrees Celsius) mean that the air conditioner will run for less time to reach desired temperatures?
Setting a thermostat at (16 degrees Celsius) means that your air conditioner will run longer than necessary to cool the room; therefore, you will have more energy consumed from the longer running time of the air conditioner.
Among all the various types of air conditioning systems available today, what type generally has the least operating cost?
The air conditioning systems that use inverter technology compared to typical, non-inverter type of air conditioning systems generally use less electricity than similar non-inverter units that would have been made on site.
What should I set my air conditioner to in order to use the least amount of energy?
The air conditioning technician’s general advice is to set an air conditioner between (24 degrees Celsius — 26 degrees Celsius) to be as energy efficient as possible.
Is an air filter a factor in energy usage?
A dirty or restricted air filter increases the amount of effort an air conditioner will take to run because it has less air passing through the filters.
