TACLB004469C

Houston Air Conditioning & Heating Service News

Houston Air Conditioning Tips

Houston Air Conditioning & Heating Service
07-22-2006

Energy-saving air conditioning tips

• Make sure your air conditioning system is efficient. Central systems are graded according to their Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The higher the better. When buying a system or unit, we suggest looking for a ratio of 13 or higher.

   

• Insulate your home.

   

• Make sure your central air conditioner is properly sized. An oversized unit will use more energy than necessary and will not dehumidify properly.

   

• Humidity makes your home uncomfortable in hot weather. Save moisture-making jobs like mopping, dishwashing, laundry and bathing for early morning or nighttime.

   

• Set your thermostat on the highest comfortable setting. Raising the temperature just 2 degrees will reduce cooling costs by 5 percent.

   

• Close the blinds, shades or draperies in your home during the hottest part of the day.

   

• Turn off unnecessary lights. Much of the energy from a light bulb is heat.

   

• Make sure your attic is properly ventilated to relieve heat buildup caused by the sun.

   

• Plant trees to help shade your house. But make sure your air conditioner is kept free of any plant overgrowth that would interfere with air circulation.

   

• Light colors on the outside of a house reflect the sun's rays, reducing the temperature inside.

   

• Make sure your registers for supply and return air are not blocked by furniture or drapes.

   

• Vent your clothes dryer to the outside.

   

• Place heat-producing appliances such as lamps and TV's away from your thermostat.

   

• Change or clean the air conditioning filter once a month.

   

• Have your air conditioner checked regularly by a properly trained and licensed technician.

   

• Remember, before calling a service man, check your thermostat settings and check your circuit breakers.