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MAKE AIR CONDITIONERS MORE
EFFICIENT
Can you stay cool
this summer without breaking the
bank?
While there's no one
money-saving strategy that will work
for everyone all the time, there are
a number of simple steps you can
take to ensure that your
air-conditioner system works at peak
efficiency and that it isn't being
asked to handle more cooling than
necessary.
This material,
reprinted with permission from
Consumer Reports magazine,
offers, some tips.
In some cases, you
may be able to cut back on
air-conditioner use considerably
without seriously inconveniencing
your family.
The pointers below
can help you find the right hardware
and the right technician to install
it, whether you're replacing an
older air conditioner or installing
one for the first time.
In a "split system,"
the typical design, refrigerant
circulates between an indoor coil
and a matching outdoor condenser
with compressor.
The refrigerant cools
the air, dehumidifying it in the
process; a blower circulates air
through ducts throughout the house.
Efficiency describes how much
cooling a unit delivers for each
watt of electricity.
Efficiency is expressed as the
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating,
or SEER.
At present, a SEER of
10 denotes a low-efficiency unit;
medium efficiency is 11 to 14; a
high efficiency is above 14.
New federal regulations scheduled to
take effect in 2006 will set the
minimum seer at 13.
Size is a synonym for
the air conditioner's cooling
capacity and is measured in British
thermal units per hour (Btu/hr) in
"tons." One tone of cooling
equals 12,000 Btu/hr.
Provide for
maintenance. A service plan
that combines regular inspections
with discounts on repairs and a
labor warranty is worth negotiating
in tot he overall price.
Prices for such
service vary widely.
At a minimum, regular
inspections should include these
steps:
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● |
Check for and
repair refrigerant leaks. |
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Detect and
correct duct leaks. |
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Inspect and
tighten electrical
connections, checking for
damage. |
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Clean the
coils, drain pan, and
drainage system. |
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Vacuum the
blower compartment. |
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Choose the
right unit. |
The most essential
criterion efficiency, assuming the
unit has the proper cooling
capacity. According to the
contractors we surveyed, units with
a SEER of 13 to 14 tend to hold up
best.
The contractors
believe that high-efficiency systems
tend to be more complex with more
that can go wrong.
Low-efficiency low-cost builder's
models, perhaps due to design
shortcuts, also require more
repairs, the contractors said.
A reciprocating
compressor is more trouble-prone
than a scroll-type one, they said.
While pricier, scroll-type
compressors do tend to be higher in
efficiency and quieter than
reciprocating compressors.
Most manufacturers
offer both types of compressor,
Consumer Reports said.
If you would like
more information on this topic
please feel free to
contact us any time. |
