Help Center - Helpful Tips
Indoor Air Quality | Helpful Tips | Related Links | FAQ's | Finding a Product
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.
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.
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.
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%.
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.
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.
Keep the shades and curtains drawn
to reduce the radiant heat of the sun.
Install awnings or plant trees that
will shade southern facing windows. This
keeps the hottest rays of the sun from shining
directly into the house.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Keep fallen leaves, grass clippings,
foliage and other dirt and debris away from
your outdoor unit. And keep the a/c coils
clean, following manufacturers' instructions.
Don't block vents or ducts inside
the house to assure air flow in the home.
Caulk and install weather stripping
around windows and doors (especially the
attic) to close air gaps.
Avoid using the oven during the day. Run
the dishwasher, washing machine and dryer
in the evening, when electricity rates may
be lower and heat from those appliances
won't increase a/c demands.
Turn off lamps, TV and other appliances
when not in use.
Consider use of a programmable thermostat
to automatically increase or decrease temperatures during day and night to suit a family's
lifestyle and reduce energy cost.
Use shades, blinds or curtains to keep sunlight
out of the house.
Keep windows and doors closed when the a/c
is on.
[back to top] |
