Readying Your Air-Conditioning System For A Hot Summer
Keeping your cool this year may be easier if you give your air-conditioning system a tune-up before the weather gets any warmer. All it takes is a few simple steps to make sure your air-conditioning system is ready to properly cool your home.
Here are some tips from the U.S. Department of Energy and the experts at Coleman� Heating and Air Conditioning
• Keeping the cool air inside is just as important as keeping the warm air outside. Caulking, weather stripping, and adding additional attic insulation will help keep cool air inside during the summer.
• Make sure the air is flowing properly through the vents. Inspect the ductwork for holes or separated joints, and hire a professional to repair them.
• Add insulation around air-conditioning ducts, when they are located in unconditioned spaces, such as attics, crawl spaces, and garages; do the same for whole-house fans where they open to the exterior or attic.
• Homeowners should check the SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rating of their air-conditioning unit. The higher the SEER rating, the more energy-efficient the unit is and the lower your utility bills will be. Upgrading to a higher SEER rating can save homeowners hundreds of dollars a year on their energy bills.
If the air-conditioning unit needs to be replaced, homeowners should be aware of the U.S. Department of Energy legislation that requires all new, central air-conditioning units manufactured after January 23, 2006, to have a SEER of at least 13.
Consumers may want to consider an energy-efficient model, such as the Coleman Echelon™ 15+ SEER air conditioner. New models are Energy Star� qualified, use environmentally friendly refrigerant, and have high-efficiency scroll compressors that enhance reliability and contribute to the extremely quiet operation of the units.
It’s a hot summer. Your air-conditioning system is shot. You call an air-conditioning contractor and tell him to bring it on. Has the contractor ever heard of
The 100-degree heatwave that struck much of the East Coast in June is only a taste of what summer is going to bring.
High temperatures and high humidity make our homes uncomfortably warm, and air conditioners are expensive to operate. But there are ways to keep the heat out.
Check Your Ductwork
It’s hard to get an exact idea of where the air you’re paying for is going. But you can get an idea of whether your ducts are leaking.
To check them, ask your air conditioning contractor to spray some soapy water around the furnace. If water drips out of the ducting, there’s probably a leak. The remedy is to seal or repipe the ducting, which can cost thousands of dollars.
Where Ducts Are Leaky
Ducts are sealed when contractors first install them, but they can fail later. The ductwork around the furnace, for example, is usually sealed with mastic, a sticky, unwashable substance.
Over time, mastic becomes brittle and cracks, allowing air to escape.
Sealing or rerouting ducts can be expensive, but it’s money well spent, particularly if you have an older home.
To figure out if ducts are leaking, find an air vent and have someone blow into it. If air comes out, there could be a leaky duct.
A better solution is to duct-tape the ducting, which costs less and works better.
Replace Your Furnace or Air Conditioning
Even if ducts are sealed and ducts are duct-taped, you still may be paying for air you don’t use.
