Proper care and use of your homes air conditioner can save you money and provide better comfort.
Most homes will have either an in window unit for serving a single room or a whole home unit that is connected to the HVAC forced air system. Both types work in similar ways although whole home units place the compressor and condenser outside the home in a small box like enclosure.
Although most of the internal parts need to be serviced by a professional keeping the units clean to allow good air flow will increase the performance of either system.
If you have a unit is not cooling at all in the spring when you try it for the first time you may need to have it serviced. Often the Refrigerant lines have very small leaks that allow enough gas out over the winter that the system will not run. An easy way to check for leaks is to look for a black oil or grease near any connection whether it is a soldered or flange and nut connection. There is oil in the refrigerant that protects the compressor and when it leaks you can see the oil. Another way is for a professional to use a leak detector that will sniff for the refrigerant gas. This is a simple process to cure leaks and refill the system but it has to be done by a professional due to the vacuum evacuation pump needed.
For whole house units you want to keep bushes and other items at least 2 feet away from the condenser box. Do not enclose the unit with fencing to hide it because it needs good air flow to give off the heat from the cooling system process. You should inspect the outside condenser at least once a year and clean any leaves, grass or other debri which may be around or inside the unit. It is a good idea to place the unit on a concrete pad or concrete blocks and not directly on the soil. Use a stone material for mulching around the unit to reduce weed growth that way you never need to get close to the unit or the coolant feed and electric lines with a grass trimmer.
The evaporator coils that are inside the home also need cleaning. Although they are placed after the heating system and should be protected by the heater filter they should be inspected regularly when your heater is checked and cleaned of dust. Evaporators will condensate water and a collection pan with drain tube should exit the unit and divert to a sump pump well. Make sure the drain tube is clear and operational or mold can build up in the unit which would then be spread throughout the home by the HVAC system.
If you do have mold buildup in your unit or in the HVAC Ducts you will need a professional to clean it with a bleach solution to kill all of the mold and restore it to save use.
Window Units
Just like whole house units it is important to clean and inspect window air conditioners at least once a year or more. You should never clean your air conditioner while it is plugged in and for smaller units that need a good cleaning you should remove them and perform the work outside.
All window units will have a filter usually made of a cleanable foam or fiber that can be taken out and cleaned by hand with dish washing soap and water. If you damage the filter you can replace it with generic filter available at a home center. If the evaporator coil grill needs to be cleaned use a soft bristle brush and soap and water. A mild bleach 1:5 and water solution is also good but make sure you are careful when using bleach in the home and wash with plain water to remove all bleach after cleaning.
Cleaning the outside of the unit is also important. Remove all leaves and other materials that may get into the unit. When installing it is a good idea to use a piece of extra plexiglass to build a runoff to reduce water from building up on top of the unit. Just cut a piece of plastic and tape it to the window with aluminum duct tape about 2 inches above the air conditioner then tape the other end to the air conditioner forming an angle for water to runoff.
Placing the unit in the window should be done with care. Often you can use a metal angle iron and screw it to the frame work of the window sill. If the window is side by side and not double hung you can use a piece of plexiglass to fill in the open area of the window. Seal the unit in the window opening with aluminum metal duct tape. Using a few layers of aluminum duct tape will give you a stable sealing area that won’t leak during rain, won’t allow air transfer or bugs to get in.
Removing window units during off months depends on how well the unit is put in place. If you have the ability to remove a window unit it may be worth it to reduce heat loss but if it is attached securely and sealed properly you should be ok.
Temperature Settings
Some people love air conditioning and would turn it on full blast for as long as posible and whats really interesting they are the same people that wear a winter parka on the first day of October and don’t take it off until the end of May. For the rest of us who happen to be human we have to weigh the cooling factor vs the costs and find a reasonable level of comfort we can afford.
Although in window units will always have their fan running while they are on the compressor that provides cooling should not run constantly. This is also similar in whole home cooling the air conditioner should not continuously run or cycle on and off constantly. If it does then you probably have the temperature set too low for the conditions. Although in extreme heat conditions where temperatures are constantly over 95F you may need to run your air more often to get proper cooling.
For most of us 78F or higher is a proper level of cooling. Although the home may not feel like you are living in a refrigerator (which it shouldn’t) it will provide enough cooling to keep you comfortable. A ceiling or personal fan can supplement your cooling needs and will reduce your overall costs.
For every degree over 78F you raise the temperature setting you can expect to save 5% on energy costs. The reverse is not quite the same if you were to lower the room temperature to 68F from 78F you would pay much more then a 50% increase for the 10deg difference.
For a small window unit you can expect to pay about $100 per year in electric for a 4 month average cooling season. Prices will vary based on the cost of electric in your area. For full house cooling systems you can usually expect to pay an increase in electric of about 25%.
Insulation is a very important thing not only for heating but cooling. You should have insulated exterior walls and up to an R-60 in your attic which can really hold heat during the summer months.
An attic fan is also a good idea and can reduce your total need for air conditioning in late spring and fall months.
Remember if it is cool in the morning or evening open your windows and don’t get into the habit of leaving the air on from May to September.
If you will be out of your home for more then a 2 hours turn the air off or down. A programmable thermostat can be used to turn on your air just before you come home and turn it off before you wake up. Morning temperatures will remain somewhat cool as you get ready to leave.
Close your blinds in the summer to reduce the suns heat increasing your energy costs. Sun penetration through windows can account for 20% of your cooling bills.
Remember saving a few dollars is not worth getting heat sickness. If you are on a fixed budget and need to find a cool place to be in the summer then go to a government building, library or shopping mall.