Jun 4, 2009 12:56 pm US/Eastern
Angie's List: Central Air Conditioners
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
More than half of the energy used in your home goes toward heating and cooling. Are you looking for ways to cut down on your air conditioning costs? In this week's Angie's List report, Jim Donovan finds that you aren't alone. But if you don't service your air conditioner on a regular basis, it could end up costing money in the long run.
According to Angie's List founder Angie Hicks, "Many of us skip out on servicing our air conditioner each year, but you really shouldn't do that because if your air conditioner is left un-serviced it's going to lose 5% of its efficiency each and every year which is just going to cost your more on your energy bills. Plus it hopefully prevent having an emergency call on the hottest day of the summer."
Heating & Cooling Technician James Barry says, "You can tell if it's running efficiently due to the fact that if it heats and cools your house in a quick manner. You shouldn't have it running more than 5 or 10 minutes at a time. Of course on the real hot days when it's 95 and real humid it might run a little more."
Using a programmable thermostat will keep you from cooling your house when you're not there and replacing the air filters regularly will help too. Barry says, "Depending on what kind of air filter you have, if you just have the standard blue throw away filter - they generally last about a month. If you have the once inch pleated filter, they'll last you between 2 and 3 months, and if you have the media filter, which is four inches wide, they'll last you 6 months to a year."
Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Tax Credits
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) extends, expands, and simplifies the federal income tax credits for homeowners who make energy efficiency home improvements.
· Under the new federal energy tax credit, homeowners who purchase and install specific energy-efficient equipment, like a new central air conditioning unit, can receive a tax credit for 30% of the cost, up to $1,500.
· The purchase and installation must be done between January 2009 and the end of December 2010.
· And the new unit must meet certain criteria and not all Energy Star qualified products qualify for a tax credit.
· For example, to qualify, the central air conditioner must have a seasonal energy efficiency ratio of 16 or greater.
· A reputable heating and cooling installation professional should be able to help you determine which systems meet the new federal rebate requirements, and then it's a good idea to check with your tax preparer.
· Taxpayers should keep copies of invoices and receipts to document their actual expenditures
Here is some additional advice from Angie:
1. Call a professional: Each central air conditioning unit should be inspected, cleaned and tuned by a professional. A professional tune-up typically costs between $50 and $125.
2. Keep the filter clean: Clean and replace the air conditioner filter frequently (check the filter once a month). This is especially important during the summer when dust and allergens circulate. If the filter becomes clogged, your system will have to work harder to supply the same amount of cool air.
3. Made in the shade: Air conditioners with proper shading can be more efficient. Air in a shaded space is cooler than the surrounding air, meaning the A/C will have an easier time cooling the air, but keep plants, shrubs, and other landscaping about two to four feet away from your outdoor unit to ensure adequate airflow.
4. Don't take the heat: Don't place lamps, TV sets, or other heat producing appliances near your thermostat. The thermostat senses the heat causing the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
5. Dial for dollars: Remember that each degree you dial below 78 increases your energy consumption by about 8 percent. If your monthly electric bill is about $100, you'll save $8 a month with EACH degree you can stand above 78.
6. Set and go: If it's hard to remember to tweak your thermostat before you leave for work, consider investing in a programmable thermostat or a timer for your window unit.
7. Time to replace? You may find your old air conditioner is no longer efficient. Consider replacing your unit with an energy-efficient model. They're usually more expensive but thanks to federal tax credits and competitive prices, the prices are falling, and because they use less energy, you save in the long-run, too. When replacing your A/C, look for a properly sized unit. If you install a unit that is too large, it will cycle on and off - reducing the efficiency of the system.
8. Don't cool the whole neighborhood: Seal air leaks with caulking and weatherstripping. Add insulation around air conditioning ducts.
9. Feel the breeze: If your home has ceiling fans, switch your ceiling fan to run counterclockwise in the summer. That will push the cool air down. You can run a ceiling fan half the day for about $1.50 a month, compared to $25 for an air conditioner.
10. Beat the heat: Avoid landscaping with lots of rock, cement, or asphalt on the south or west sides of your home. If it's not shaded it will increase the temperature around the house and radiate heat.
RELATED LINKS:
www.angieslist.com
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