Spring & Summer Seasonal Tips

How To Be More Comfortable and Save Money During Hot & Humid Summer Months

How does an air conditioning system actually work to cool the air in my home?

A: An air conditioning system consists of 2 parts: an outdoor unit (where liquid
refrigerant is contained) and an indoor coil (where the refrigerant is pumped into). As
the air moves across the air conditioning coil (usually located on top of the furnace), the
refrigerant removes the heat from the air as well as the moisture by condensing it on
the cold surface of the coil. In this way, an air conditioner not only cools but also
dehumidifies the air. Virtually any system can have air conditioning hooked up to it
provided that it is a forced air system. In cases where there is not forced air heating or
a duct system, we can use "ductless" air conditioning systems to cool an entire home
or small business.

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What is a S.E.E.R. (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating and what does it mean to
you?

A: S.E.E.R. stands for Seasonal Energy ,Efficiency Ratio, the standard measurement of
air conditioning efficiency established by the U.S. Department of Energy. What does this
mean to you? Higher S.E.E.R. ratings translate into greater energy efficiency which
means lower summer cooling bills. The most important thing to remember is the higher
the S.E.E.R. rating, the more money you save. Why a higher efficiency rating (SEER)
saves energy: If your current air conditioner or heat pump is more than 10 years old, it
could be operating at lower than 8.00 S.E.E.R. Compare the estimated annual bill of an
8.00 S.E.E.R. system to that of a higher S.E.E.R., such as a 12.00 or 13.00. For instance, if
the annual cooling bill of an 8.00 S.E.E.R. system in a particular area is $1,000, it would
cost only $615 for a 13.00 S.E.E.R. system to operate at the same capacity in the same
area. This is an annual savings of 38%.

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Have your Air Conditioning system tuned-up for the season, so that you are running at
peak efficiency.

Operating at peak efficiency will save money because the system doesn't have to work
as hard to do it's job.

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Replace your furnace or air handler filters on a regular basis.

Lack of regular filter changes and maintenance is the Number 1 cause of system
breakdowns and costly repair bills.

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If you disconnected the power to your central air conditioning system in the winter, wait
24-hours after turning power back on to the system to run it.

Your compressor needs that time to warm-up.

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Keep the thermostat constant.

Continuously adjusting the thermostat can be very inefficient. You can, however, raise
the thermostat 2-3 degrees during the day while you're away to save money. For every
degree you raise the setting, you can expect to cut energy consumption by up to 3-5%.

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Flip the fan switch on your thermostat into the "fan on" mode when cooling the house.

This process will ensure that air is always being stirred to prevent hot and cold pockets
from forming.

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Set air vents on the second floor to receive approximately 75 percent of the conditioned
air.

This will help even out the temperatures from the first to the second floor of the home.

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Replace older windows with more efficient low-E glass. These windows help to reduce
the effect of the suns warming rays. Also, keep storm windows closed.

The above 3 tips will reduce the heat load gain on your home which means your air
conditioner doesn't have to work as hard to keep the home at a comfortable
temperature. This saves money and extends the life of the system.

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Install an attic fan to help ventilate some of the hot air out of the attic.

Attics can reach temperatures of 140 - 150 degrees and this build of warm air can
make the upstairs of a home warmer than it needs to be. This makes the air conditioner
work harder to do it's job. It costs you more to cool your home and the life of the system
can be decreased.

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Run a dehumidifier in the basement if the basement is humid.

A damp basement can add moisture to the whole house. With the humidity levels as
high as they are around here on their own, you don't need that! A dehumidifier in the
basement will help to reduce the humidity levels in the home, making it more
comfortable throughout in the hot summer months.

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I have trouble getting even amounts of heat/cooling to certain parts of my house. How
can I get more heat/cooling to the upstairs/downstairs of my home?

Adjust the louvers inside the registers on the wall or floor in the room where too much
heat/cooling is present so that the registers are partially closed. For example, to get
more cooling upstairs during hot summer months, partially or fully close the registers
downstairs to force more airflow to the upstairs registers.

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Clear or cut back shrubs and bushes from the outdoor unit.

The sides of the unit require at least 12-18 inches of clearance for proper performance.