Don't Blow Your Cool

Here are six tips from the Comfort Institute to make sure you air conditioning bills don't force you to blow your cool.

1. Have your duct system tested for air leaks. Many assume that
windows and doors are the major cause of a home's energy wasting
air leaks. But according to recent research by the Department of
Energy (DOE), gaps, joints and disconnections in the typical home's
duct system are much more significant. The DOE states that the
typical duct system loses 25 to 40 percent of the energy put out by
the central heat pump or air conditioner. Authorities recommend
having an AC contractor test for leaks and then seal them with a
brushed fiber-reinforced sealant.

2. Ask your AC contractor to perform an Infiltrometer "blower
door" test. The blower door is a computerized instrument
originally invented by the Department of Energy. It pinpoints
where you home's worst air leaks are, such as duct leaks, and also
measures how leaky the overall house is. Many homes have
significant air leaks into the attic: hot dusty air often gets
drawn in through recessed can lights and pulled down stairs. New
sealing products are available to fix these significant leaks.

3. Close your fireplace damper. Did you remember to close it last
time you used the fireplace? Shut it now or waste precious cool
air all summer long.

4. Replace your air conditioner or heat pump air filter. Most
systems need this done every month to ensure safe and efficient
operation. Keep forgetting to do it? Ask your AC contractor for
information on an extended surface area whole house air filter that
needs to be replaced only once a year.

5. Have your air conditioner cleaned and tuned. A pre-season
tune-up is a great investment. It reduces the chance of breakdowns
in the middle of the summer and pays for itself through more energy
efficient operation. Make sure the AC contractor cleans both the
indoor and outdoor heat transfer coils, and checks refrigerant gas
charge by measuring "superheat" or "subcooling."

6. Consider replacing your old air conditioner or heat pump. Just
like a car, central cooling equipment doesn't last forever. Is
your system more than 12 years old? Planning to stay in your home
more than a few years? Many authorities recommend replacing it
before it fails permanently.

Reprinted with permission from Comfort Institute Inc.
Uniting Building Science & HVAC


Trust for the Future, PO Box 60322, Nashville, Tennessee 37206, USA