Air-conditioning units, in general, are notorious for gulping electricity. And, because of the increased demand brought on by all those humming AC units, the rates for electricity rise in the Chicago area during the summer.
That’s why your summer electric bills can be four to five times higher than in the winter. In fact, air-conditioning costs can be as much as half of your annual electrical costs, according to energy experts.
But there’s lots of room to save energy dollars with AC units. Not to mention that saving electricity in the summer will lower emissions from utility companies and help reduce the chance for brown-outs.
So here are some tips for saving energy with your air conditioners.
Let’s start with room air conditioners.
One of the easiest ways to keep your window unit running efficiently is to keep the filter clean, says Alane Mackay, the manager of information resources for the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) here in Chicago.
Check the filter each week and clean or replace it according to the manufacturer’s specifications, he suggests, and have the unit’s condenser cleaned every few years by a heating and cooling professional.
Try to install the unit in a window on the north or east side of the house, to keep it out of the sun when it is at its hottest, Mackay adds.
Also, never hinder air flow in or out of the unit, Mackay says. Don’t put a bookcase or couch in front of the unit. Make sure the outside of the machine is clear of debris such as leaves.
On moderately warm days, use your room air conditioner’s fresh air intake or exhaust damper to pull in outside air. It’s the condenser that chews up the most energy while it costs pennies to run the fan.
Make sure, however, that the damper is kept closed when the unit’s condenser is operating.
Inside the house, make sure the room or rooms you are cooling are well sealed. Keep doors closed and consider adding door sweeps to keep cool air in. Don’t cool unused rooms.
And if you’re cooling a kitchen or bathroom, run exhaust fans sparingly.
Also consider installing ceiling fans, or use portable fans, to help circulate the cool air around your home.
And on many days, you may find you need to run only the fans.
Finally, if your window air conditioner has a timer, use it. Set it to begin cooling just before you come home from work so that the air conditioner doesn’t run all day long while you’re away. If the unit doesn’t have a timer, consider attaching one to the electrical plug.
There are also some measures you can take to keep your central air conditioning unit running efficiently, says Bob Shepherd, the technical director for the Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors Association.
“As with a room air conditioner, make sure the filter is changed and cleaned regularly,” says Shepherd. “It’s a must as you’ve got to have air movement across the cooling coils, which can freeze up.”
That filter can be the same one you maintain for your central heating system and it may be disposable or may be hand-washable.
Close off vents to unused rooms. And make sure windows and outside doors are kept closed to keep the cool air in.
Outside the house, make sure that the condensing unit remains free of debris. Keep grass, weeds and vines from growing up, around and into the unit. “Also, hit the unit with a hose to wash away any debris that’s on it,” Shepherd says.
While it helps if the condensing unit is shaded, make sure it’s not surrounded by bushes or decking that can restrict air movement, says Shepherd. “Air is needed to circulate through the coils of the unit to dissipate the heat.”
Finally, have the unit checked yearly by a heating and cooling professional. Your best bet, says Shepherd, is to do that in the spring before the hot weather arrives.
“A professional should run an electrical test, check for coolant leaks, and oil the insider blower and the fan inside the condensing unit,” he says. “That will ensure the unit is running at its most efficient level.”
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Got a question about home energy or home environmental issues? Write to Energy Q&A, Chicago Tribune, Your Place section, 435 N. Michigan Ave., 4th Floor, Chicago, Ill. 60611. Or you can e-mail energy qa@aol.com. Questions will be answered only through the column.
