Hottest July On Record

August 8th, 2012 Posted in Central Air Conditioning
Comments Off on Hottest July On Record

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reported that this past July was the hottest month on record.  The average temperature across the country for July was higher than any recorded since officials started keeping records in 1895.  The record heat is probably not news for those of us whose air conditioners have been running around the clock trying to keep up with the heat, but it’s one more reason why you should consider replacing that old central air conditioner with a new, energy efficient air conditioning system.

Central air conditioning systems use a lot of electricity to cool our homes.  However, manufacturers have made big gains in air conditioner efficiency in the past decade.  According to the Department of Energy, modern central air conditioning systems are 30% to 50% more energy efficient than those installed in the 1970’s and 20% to 40% than those sold just ten years ago.

These figures are based on the efficiency of the systems when they were new.  All central air conditioners lose some efficiency as they get older so your energy savings will probably be even greater!  Imagine keeping your home cool and comfortable using only half or two thirds of the electricity you are using today.  In this record heat, the savings can really add up quickly.

When you add in the savings on maintenance and repairs needed to keep that old system running, it won’t take long for a new central air conditioner to pay for itself.  After that, you will enjoy year after year of energy efficient cool comfort.  If beating the heat is putting a dent in your wallet, talk to your local heating and air conditioning contractor about installing a new energy efficiency system in your home today.

, ,
Read More

Energy Efficient Air Conditioning Systems

July 31st, 2012 Posted in Air Conditioning Service and Repair
Comments Off on Energy Efficient Air Conditioning Systems

If you are tired of high energy bills for cooling your home, consider replacing your old central air conditioning system with a modern energy efficient unit.  Even a central air conditioner that is only 10 years old may be just half as efficient as the energy efficient central air conditioning systems on the market today.  Older, worn out units are even less efficient.

Government regulations that took effect in 2006 set the minimum seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) for central air conditioning systems at 13 and some new energy efficient units have SEER ratings as high as 26.  Central air conditioning systems sold just a few years prior to 2006 had SEER ratings as low as 6.

As a central air conditioning system ages, it slowly becomes less and less efficient.  Regular HVAC system maintenance can help any system operate as efficiently as possible, but over time the energy efficiency of any air conditioning system declines.  Older, worn out systems have to work harder to cool your home and use more energy as a result.

Even if your central air conditioning system is working well, it may be using more than twice the energy that modern air conditioners need to maintain the same level of cool comfort in your home.  Depending on the cost of energy in your area, you may be able to save so much money on your cooling costs that a new unit could pay for itself in as little as 5 to10 years.  Your local heating and air conditioning contractor can help you determine whether it makes sense to replace your old central air conditioning system.

, ,
Read More

Save Big This Summer With A Programmable Thermostat

July 6th, 2012 Posted in HVAC Accessories
Comments Off on Save Big This Summer With A Programmable Thermostat

With record high temperatures across the country and summer just getting under way, you may be seeing record high electricity bills for running your air conditioner.  You can save energy and money without sacrificing comfort by having your HVAC technician install a programmable thermostat.

Programmable thermostats are also referred to as “setback” thermostats because they set the thermostat temperature back while you are away from home during the day or asleep at night.   Programmable thermostats allow you to set a cooling schedule that adjusts the temperature to a warmer setting while your home is unoccupied or at night while you are asleep.

For example, the thermostat could be set to cool your home to 78 degrees in time for you to wake up in the morning, automatically increase the temperature setting to 85 degrees after you leave for work, cool your home back to 78 degrees by the time to return home for the evening, and allow the temperature to climb to 82 degrees overnight.  The next morning the cycle will start over again.

You can achieve the same effect and savings by manually adjusting your existing thermostat, but a programmable thermostat has at least two advantages over the do-it-yourself method.  First, a programmable thermostat relieves you from remembering to change the setting throughout the day.  Since it works automatically, it never “forgets” to adjust the temperature setting and maximizes your energy savings.

In addition, a programmable thermostat adjusts the temperature so that your home is comfortable as soon as you wake up and when you return home from work.  If you turn the temperature setting down when you get home from work or wake up in the morning, you will have to wait for the temperature to reach the desired setting.

, ,
Read More

Energy Saving Tips

April 30th, 2012 Posted in Air Conditioning Service and Repair
Comments Off on Energy Saving Tips

Summer weather is on the way and if last year is any indication, we may be seeing another round of record breaking temperatures.  You can keep your cool while keeping your energy costs down by trying a few of these energy saving tips.

If you don’t already have one, install a programmable thermostat.  These save energy by automatically switching to a higher, energy saving setting when you and your family are away from home or asleep.

Make sure that your thermostat is installed in a location that is not affected by heat from direct sun exposure, a lamp, electronics, or the kitchen stove.  Your thermostat will think that the temperature in your home is higher than it really is and it will cause the air conditioner to work harder and waste energy.

If you have windows that get direct sunlight, keep the blinds or drapes closed during the day to reduce the warming effect of the sun’s rays. Direct sunlight can raise the temperature in a room by several degrees.

Remember to switch your ceiling fans to normal rotation.  In the winter, ceiling fans should be run in reverse to move warm air lower in the room but in the summer, ceiling fans should run in the normal direction.  The moving air can make the temperature seem several degrees lower than it is.

Change your furnace filter regularly and schedule your air conditioning service by an experienced HVAC technician before the cooling season starts.  Keeping the system serviced will help it operate efficiently.  It will reduce your energy costs and extend the life of your system.

, ,
Read More

Energy Efficient Air Conditioners Make Swamp Coolers Obsolete

April 25th, 2012 Posted in Uncategorized
Comments Off on Energy Efficient Air Conditioners Make Swamp Coolers Obsolete

With the advent of highly efficient central air conditioning units, swamp coolers (evaporative coolers) are rapidly becoming a thing of the past.  A swamp cooler is a cooling system that does not use refrigerant for residential cooling.  Instead, a swamp cooler relies on the science behind evaporation to cool a home.

Swamp coolers use a large fan to draw ambient air through absorbent mats soaked with a continuous stream of water.  As the air is drawn through the mat, the evaporation of the water cools the air which is then blown into the home through a system of ducts.

Swamp coolers were popular in certain areas of the country 30 years ago because they used much less electricity than a central air conditioning system.  Swamp coolers don’t have compressors or high pressure pumps that draw large amounts of electricity.  A swamp cooler only has a low pressure pump and a fan which use less electricity than a central air conditioner.

However, swamp coolers have some serious limitations.  For one, they are only effective in very hot, dry climates which limits them to certain parts of the country.  For another, they need maintenance on a monthly basis to replace the pads and to clean the system.  Their cooling capacity is limited and becomes even more limited if the humidity level rises or when it is raining.

Despite the drawbacks, many homeowners have relied on swamp coolers due to their lower energy consumption, but that advantage is nowhere near as much as it used to be.  Modern energy efficient central air conditioning systems use 30% less energy than those sold only 15 years ago and only half as much energy as systems sold 30 years ago.

The bottom line is that when it comes to HVAC system replacement or installation, the reduced energy savings offered by swamp coolers is no longer enough for most homeowners to favor a swamp cooler over a central air conditioning system.

, ,
Read More

Avoid Closing Vents to Save on Air Conditioning

March 12th, 2012 Posted in Reducing HVAC Energy Costs
Comments Off on Avoid Closing Vents to Save on Air Conditioning

Many homeowners faced with onerous summertime energy bills attempt to save energy and money by closing off parts of their home or shutting some of their central air conditioning vents.  It makes sense that closing the vents in unused areas of the home would direct more cool air to other areas of the home and would result in lower energy usage and reduced electric bills.  However, studies have shown that closing more than just one or two vents did not result in a cost savings and can even cause damage to the system.

Most HVAC systems installed in the past twenty to thirty years were carefully designed to meet the needs of the home.  Efficient operation of these systems depends on the right amount of air flowing through the system.  If a homeowner closes some of the supply air vents, the air flow within the system is restricted and duct pressure rises.

As the pressure inside the ducts increases, so does the amount of conditioned air that leaks from the ducts.  Studies have shown that this increased duct leakage offsets any benefit gained from closing some of the home’s air supply vents, especially if the ducts are run through non-conditioned space such as an attic or crawlspace.

In addition, the reduced airflow through the system can cause ice accumulation on the coils.  This ice further blocks the airflow and reduces the cooling airflow.

Your heating and air conditioning system was designed to operate most efficiently with all of the air supply ducts open.  To save money on air conditioning costs, talk to your HVAC technician about duct sealing to reduce duct losses and having an HVAC system efficiency analysis performed to find ways to improve efficiency of your heating and air conditioning  system.

, ,
Read More
Newer Entries

Find Local Company | HVAC Directory | Find Local HVAC Companies