While we haven’t officially reached the “dog days of summer” just yet, your air conditioner is probably getting a good workout this time of year. Let’s make sure you are maximizing your cooling while minimizing your energy costs. Here are some air conditioning do’s and don’ts you should follow.
Maintain the compressor. If you have central air, make sure the unit is working as efficiently as possible. Remove any vegetation or debris blocking the air flow around your compressor/condenser, and use a garden hose to clean dirt or debris off the unit. If you haven’t already done so, get an air conditioner tuneup from a company with North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certified professionals to do the inspection and tune up.
Block the sun’s rays. If you have certain windows where the sun beats in, closing blinds or drapes help keep out the heat. If you have severe sun problems, you can consider getting window film from a company like Michigan Glass Coatings, (800) 999-8468, www.michiganglasscoatings.com or solar shades or awnings from Marygrove Awning, (734) 422-7110, www.marygrove.com.
You should also turn off any unnecessary lighting and avoid using appliances that generate any additional heat in the home.
Circulation and humidification. Is one room cooler than the others? Close the damper on the individual duct run to that room and allow the conditioned air to go where it’s needed most. If you’re not sure what ducts go to what rooms, contact a licensed HVAC contractor to balance your system’s cold air flow.
If you have ceiling fans, only turn them on when you are in the room. The evaporative effect you feel when a breeze comes in contact with your skin doesn’t happen if you’re not in the room.
Excessive humidity is the main reason we feel hot and sticky. Central air is designed to primarily dehumidify and then reduce indoor air temperature. Use a hygrometer to check your home’s humidity level. For areas like your basement that are too humid (above 60 percent) you may need to run a de-humidifier continuously, even if the air is on.
Let the AC do its job. Many people are under the misconception that they will save energy by turning off the air conditioner when they go to work. Unfortunately, the reality is that any air conditioner will have to work even harder to cool a warmer house when you get home, costing you more. It’s better to pick a specific temperature you can live with and just leave it alone. Or better yet, use a programmable thermostat set to a temperature three to seven degrees higher when you leave for work and then have it return to your optimum temperature at least an hour before you get home.
You should also avoid the temptation to open your windows, unless you plan to have your air off for several days. Opening windows fills your home with humid air and even a properly sized air conditioner can get overwhelmed.
Get interruptible service. While practicing these good air conditioner habits can make you cooler, it can also save you money. Another way to save up to 20 percent on your electric bill is to contact your utility. For instance, if you are a DTE customer, www.dteenergy.com, check out their CoolCurrents program. This interruptible service allows DTE to cycle your air conditioner’s electric service briefly on very hot days when the demand for electricity is high.
Room air conditioning options. If you have a home that stays fairly cool even in the dead of summer, but you want to have air conditioning for one or two rooms, you can consider window or portable air conditioners. While window units are cumbersome, they are Energy Star compliant, unlike portable units. The advantage of the portable units is that you can move them easily from room to room.
You can also consider the ductless mini-split air conditioning systems from Carrier, Mitsubishi Electric and Sanyo. Even if you are just cooling one or two rooms, you should still try to use the same blind management, de-humidification and air circulation tips to give these units a chance to work efficiently.
Even if you do everything right, central air conditioning is designed to make your home at most only 15 degrees cooler than the outside air temperature. Additionally, a room air conditioner can’t cool an entire house. So be realistic about your expectations and keep cool.
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