Britt's Air ConditioningEnergy-saving air conditioning tips
- Make sure your air conditioning system is efficient. Central systems are graded according to their Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The higher the better. When buying a system or unit, we suggest looking for a ratio of 11 or higher.
- Insulate your home.
- Make sure your central air conditioner is properly sized. An oversized unit will use more energy than necessary and will not dehumidify properly.
- Humidity makes your home uncomfortable in hot weather. Save moisture-making jobs like mopping, dishwashing, laundry and bathing for early morning or nighttime.
- Set your thermostat on the highest comfortable setting. Raising the temperature just 2 degrees will reduce cooling costs by 5 percent.
- Close the blinds, shades or draperies in your home during the hottest part of the day.
- Turn off unnecessary lights. Much of the energy from a light bulb is heat.
- Make sure your attic is properly ventilated to relieve heat buildup caused by the sun.
- Plant trees to help shade your house. But make sure your air conditioner is kept free of any plant overgrowth that would interfere with air circulation.
- Light colors on the outside of a house reflect the sun's rays, reducing the temperature inside.
- Make sure your registers for supply and return air are not blocked by furniture or drapes.
- Vent your clothes dryer to the outside.
- Place heat-producing appliances such as lamps and TV's away from your thermostat.
- Change or clean the air conditioning filter once a month.
- Have your air conditioner checked regularly by a properly trained and licensed technician.
- Remember, before calling a service man, check your thermostat settings and check your circuit breakers.