Air Conditioning and Heating Save Money

How about saving some money on your electric bill? There are some common sense steps regarding your heating and air conditioning that can be taken to make saving money a reality.

In the warmer regions, 60 to 70 percent of your summer electric bill can come from air conditioning. As a whole, air conditioning in this area makes up more than 15% of the yearly bill. Todays new air conditioning systems use 30 to 50 percent less electricity than air conditioners from 15 years ago. They are much more efficient than the older units because it has been mandated as of January 2006 by the U.S. Department of Energy that the SEER rating of equipment sold in the United States would be 13 or above. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the equipment. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating is the BTU(British Thermal Unit) divided by the total electric energy input in watt-hours. This is measured over a period of time such as a typical cooling season. You should seriously consider purchasing new equipment if your equipment is older and you experience a breakdown leading to a large repair bill.

Maybe you don't need a new A/C system. There are still steps that you can take to save electricity which equals money. The easiest and most important thing a homeowner can do is regularly change the air filter. A dirty filter restricts air flow and causes your system to run inefficiently. They say you can save 5% on your electric bill just by keeping a clean filter. Of course we are talking about the times of the year when your unit is being used. Another reason to change the air filter is because your filter is keeping your air conditioning coil from becoming dirty. If your coil becomes dirty, your equipment becomes less efficient because air can no longer pass efficiently through it. If this happens you can no longer save the 5% by keeping a clean filter. Additionally, if your coil becomes dirty, it no longer operates efficiently. The evaporator coil in a residential system is usually located in the attic or closet along with the gas furnace or electric air handler. The condenser is located outside which is why it is known as a split system. (Commercial units are common called package units meaning all components of the air conditioning system are packaged in one cabinet.)

Another thing a homeowner can do to insure that the air conditioning equipment is running efficiently is to take steps to keep the outside condenser coil clean. When mowing the lawn it is best to turn your air conditioner off so that dirt and grass is not sucked into the condenser coils. Also, a homeowner should hose down the outside condenser coils with a garden hose every month or so during peak usage. If the condenser coils are clogged, they can't get the air needed to operate efficiently. Have it done by a professional in the spring. Watch him and take a few mental notes. Be extra careful not to bend the fins of the coil as this will ruin it.

Did you know it is claimed that an air conditioner condenser uses 10% more electricity if it is located in the sun? An air conditioner actually removes heat from your house. The cool air comes from the absence of heat. When a condenser is in the sun, the heat from the sun affects the efficiency of the unit. Provide some afternoon shade for your air conditioning condenser. Planting a tree to block the afternoon sun is a good investment. In fact, well positioned trees can keep the indoor temperature of your house 20 degrees cooler. Plant native trees that are tolerant of the soils in your area. A red oak is an excellent tree to plant in the Dallas Metroplex. Ask for suggestions of trees recommended in your area from your local nursery.

Attics get extremely hot in the southwest. Invest in some insulation. It will help keep the heat out of your house in the summer and the heat in your house in the winter. No matter how efficient your air conditioning and heating equipment are working, if your home is not properly insulated, you are paying to heat and cool the outside. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends R-49 insulation in the attic. Not only are you saving money on your electric bill when you install extra insulation, you are also adding value to your home and it is a great selling point.

Have a seasonal air conditioning checkup. If your air conditioning system is not properly charged, it will not cool efficiently. Then all summer long you could be using unnecessary electricity. Be sure and have your air conditioner checked.

Check the duct system. No matter how well your air conditioner is working, if your duct system is leaking it is heating and cooling your attic, not your house. Some older homes might have deteriorating duct runs. A qualified A/C technician should check your duct work as part of a preseason air conditioning checkup.

Use ceiling fans. Ceiling fans cool the person, not the room. The temperature in the room will not change, so if you are not in the room, turn the fan off. A ceiling fan provides a "wind chill" effect, helping the bodies natural cooling process. It also blows away the warmer air that your body creates. Most ceiling fans have directional switches. The down direction should be used in the summer as it blows air down on you. In the winter, the fan should gently blow toward the ceiling, which pushes the warmer air off the ceiling and circulates it in the room.

Turn up the air conditioner, turn down the heater. Nothing can save you more money than lowering the amount of electricity used by adjusting the thermostat. However, the object is to still be comfortable. As mentioned earlier, use a ceiling fan. This should allow you to turn up the temperature on your air conditioner and still be comfortable. Those extra degrees are a huge savings when your unit is trying to keep up in the heat of the summer. Likewise in the winter, turn down your heat. Use a sweatshirt in addition to a T-shirt while you are watching TV or reading a book. Additionally, have a blanket nearby and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate.

Evaluate the attic ventilation. Before you make any changes to the ventilation in the attic, you should evaluate what you already have. It can make a difference in what should be done. The object is to cool down the attic in the summer. But you need to determine if you have ridge vents, turbines, attic roof vents, or power attic fans. A ridge vent is a ventilating system that is installed across almost the entire ridge of the roof. This is an excellent system of ventilation but it is labor intensive to install. If you are installing a new roof, a ridge vent system should definitely be considered. Should you install an attic power fan? You need to do your homework. They will not work properly with if you have a ridge vent system because instead of sucking air in from the soffit vents (vents under the eaves), you will suck air in from the closest place which would be the ridge vent. With any ventilation system that you choose, the most important thing is to be sure that there are adequate soffit vents. Heat rises and your under soffit vents are where fresh air enters the attic.

Use exhaust fans in the summer. If your home has exhaust fans in the bathrooms, use them in the summer when taking a shower. If you do not have exhaust fans in your house consider purchasing them. The fans can remove humidity from your home. Humidity will cause you to feel warmer because it hinders the bodies natural cooling process. In the winter, do not use the exhaust fans, rather, when you are done showering, open the bathroom door so the humidity can circulate in your home. The higher humidity will make you feel warmer and is good for your body. Dry air from heating sources can dry your skin and lead to nose bleeds. Another tip is to use your kitchen exhaust fan in the summer because it removes not only the humidity but also heat from cooking.

Purchase a humidifier to use in the winter. As noted above, humidity will help your body feel warmer. It's doesn't cost near as much to add a little humidity to the air as it does to heat the air. A hygrometer is a device that measures humidity.

Use a dehumidifier in the summer. The use of a dehumidifier will reduce the humidity in the air helping you to feel cooler. This is especially true with the newer air conditioning systems as they are more efficient and run for shorter lengths of time. Because they don't operate as long, they do not remove humidity from your house as well as a less efficient unit. Therefore the temperature has to be set lower to achieve the same level of comfort. If you use a dehumidifier, you get the best of both worlds. Comfort from less humidity which allows a higher temperature setting, and shorter cycle times from more efficient equipment.

Purchase and use a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat has some big advantages when it comes to saving electricity. How many times a year do you forget to turn up the thermostat when its scorching hot outside and you are at work...cooling nobody?. Same with the heat. Did you turn up the thermostat extra warm because you awoke to a cold house and then spent the day thinking about that electric bill because you ran off again with the heat blaring hot. No doubt, this has happened to you multiple times. Even if you are at home, the programmable thermostat can save you money. In the summer, are you too hot to get to sleep at night? You can leave the air on when you are going to bed so you can get to sleep. After you have fallen asleep, your body naturally slows down and cools. The T-Stat can turn down the air and you will be just as comfortable, sleeping like a baby...with lower electric bills.

Use a space heater. A space heater is more efficient than central air because you are only heating the space you are in. This allows you to operate your heat at a lower temperature in the entire house and then supplement your central heat with a space heater. Electric ceramic heaters are safe and efficient.

Air Conditioning and Heating, Saving Money on Electricity

Air Conditioning and Heating, Saving Money on Electricity