Air conditioning units line the exteriors of apartments in Boston, Mass. Cooling your home throughout the summer can be expensive, but Carlozo says you can cut your air conditioning bills by making sure your unit is new and periodically rotating out your unit for a ceiling fan.

Though we’re technically still in the season of spring, June is off to a hot start in many parts of the country, and that means one thing for millions of sweltering people: air conditioning. And while we may take air conditioning for granted, it’s generally an expensive luxury. Americans spend more than $22 billion a year on electricity to cool their homes with air conditioning — and use a whopping 183 billion kilowatt-hours, according to recent statistics from the U.S. Department of Energy. That accounts for at least 15% of all energy used in some homes, and in warmer climates can represent up to 70% of a summer electric bill.

If you’re shopping for a new air conditioner, you’ll notice quite a few different sizes and models. But one thing’s for sure: Savings are always chill. Here’s a quick primer to staying cool and keeping your wallet from overheating when picking out an A/C unit.

What’s a BTU and How Many Do I Need?

Chances are you already know that BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, and that the more BTUs an air conditioner cranks out, the stronger its cooling power. But here’s the problem: Most American consumers aren’t sure how to translate BTUs into the square footage of a room. (No disrespect to the Brits, but maybe we need an American Thermal Unit, where 1 AMU corresponds to 1 square foot.)

Lobbying for the AMU aside, you don’t have to guess how much BTU power you’ll need to cool your space. Instead, download this Energy Star document and turn to page three. There you’ll find a handy chart that simply correlates the area you want to cool into BTUs per hour. So for example, an air conditioner with a rating of 8,000 BTUs can cool a room that’s 300 to 350 sq. ft., aka one that measures about 18 ft. x 18 ft. Of course, you still have to measure your room, but we trust you can work a tape measure and apply this formula: Area equals length times width. For irregularly sized rooms, you can always estimate.

Air Conditioner + Ceiling Fan = Savings

It’s one thing to run an air conditioner in your room. But combine its power with a simple ceiling fan, and you can have the best of both worlds. Costing less than a penny an hour to run, ceiling fans have an immediate impact on your domestic comfort once you buy and install them. They generally start at about $40 a piece, but we found this Harbor Breeze 42? Armitage White Ceiling Fan with Light Kit ($24.98 with in-store pickup, a low by $35), which is among the least expensive 42? ceiling fans we’ve seen. The nice thing about a ceiling fan is that it can make you feel anywhere from 3 to 8 degrees cooler.

Calculate Yearly A/C Costs Before You Buy

Nowadays, nearly all air conditioners come with one of those bright yellow Energy Guide stickers on the box that tells you exactly how much that unit will cost to run. Take this expense into account, as that’s part of your total cost for both buying and operating the unit. Most folks think bigger is always better, but that’s not so: “Air conditioners remove both heat and humidity from the air. If the unit is too large, it will cool the room quickly, but only remove some of the humidity. This leaves the room with a damp, clammy feeling. A properly sized unit will remove humidity effectively as it cools.”

Why a New Window Unit Could Pay for Itself

If your air conditioner is more than 10 years old, you should seriously consider replacing it. Many new Energy Star air conditioners are so efficient that they use about 10% less energy than one without that designation, according to U.S. Department of Energy estimates. Depending on how long you hold onto the new unit, you could save $60 or more over its lifetime in energy costs alone — a de facto rebate just for upgrading to an Energy Star model.

The key number to look for is the Energy Efficiency Rating (or EER): The higher the EER, the more efficient the unit. So if you replace an old EER 5 unit with a new EER 10 unit, you’ll cut your cooling costs in half. You should also look for the “Energy Star” and “Energy Guide” labels when purchasing a window unit. An energy-efficient unit will cycle the compressor on and off so that it doesn’t operate continuously. And Energy Star central air units are on average 14% more efficient than standard models. Speaking of which …

The Great Central Air Debate

If you’re thinking about upgrading to central air, it’s easy to beat yourself up for being an energy hog, or to get intimidated by the sticker price. Yes, it’s true that central units will use a lot more power than, say, a single window unit on each floor of a 2-story dwelling. But if you have more than two rooms to cool, then your best bet is to go with a central unit, which also provides long term resale value for a home. Well-designed central systems also win out in terms of being able to filter the air for allergens and pollutants, and for controlling humidity.

Again, keep in mind that window A/C units aren’t necessarily more energy-efficient than central air units. A window unit that is too small to cool a room may run continuously, wasting energy. When shopping for a central air conditioning system, make sure the SEER number (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) is 13 or better (14 in warmer climates). A less efficient system will cost you more to run.

Help Your New Air Conditioner Do Its Job More Efficiently

It’s easy to think that buying a new air conditioner or two will solve all of your summer cooling problems. But your AC could use a little help. With central units, for example, a programmable timer or thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs by regulating the temperature when you’re out of the house, and by turning on only when you return home.

With window units, air filters get dirty … fast. Clean your AC filter at least every month, as a dirty filter makes your AC work harder and use more electricity. Regardless of the type or age of the unit, you should change your filters after every 90 days of use. What’s more, you’ll use less energy cooling down a room by keeping direct sunlight out during the day: Sunlight can raise room temperature by 10 to 20 degrees. The less heat that gets into your home, the less you have to pay to remove it. It just so happens that drapes block sunlight and heat better than blinds.

Hot Air Conditioner Deals

We’ve got an ever-updated list of air conditioning deals for you to peruse and compare. This time of year, sales are as plentiful as backyard barbecues. Certainly one of the worst things to do is feel a heat wave hit you in the face, rush to the first store you can find, and buy the first unit you see. Chill out, if you will, and do some comparison shopping, checking out multiple units for price, efficiency, reliability, and features. The Keystone 6,000 BTU Energy Star Window Air Conditioner ($179.99 with free shipping, a low by $12) features three cooling speeds, three fan speeds, a programmable 24-hour on / off timer, energy and sleep modes, adjustable air flow, slide-out mesh filter, and a remote control.

The few minutes you spend comparing notes and using your shopping smarts will do more than show off how cool you are. It will help you make a prudent choice with your money that will keep your living space comfy all summer long, and for many summers to come.

Lou Carlozo is a contributor at dealnews.com, where this article first appeared.

In fact, some companies are canceling pre-scheduled tune-ups just to respond to all the emergency repairs.

“It’s miserable. You’re sticky, you’re uncomfortable, you can’t sleep,” said one anxious homeowner, who came home from work to find that her air conditioning had broken down.

This client had to suffer in the sweltering heat until an HVAC repair technician came to her rescue.

“Inside it was hot and sticky. The whole family is miserable.” said the homeowner.

We are getting getting as many as 100 calls a day asking for emergency repairs. But don’t worry as we have on-call crews working around the clock to meet the heightened demand.

Avoiding Emergency HVAC Repairs

We suggest changing the filter is probably the best thing that a homeowner can do. A clogged filter makes the unit run longer, putting more stress on the equipment, causing it to breakdown. Also, you waste a lot of money needlessly.

Some heating and cooling problems are unavoidable.We often repair A/C units that stopped working when its capacitor broke. These often suffer heat damage from the extreme weather.

The homeowner made matters worse when he tried to turn on the A/C anyway and caused the compressor to overheat.

A capacitor could take a couple hours for it to cool off, so try running water over it cool it off.

In most cases, a simple filter change and getting a tune up, something most commercial property managers and home owners have not done in years, would have kept the A/C running through the night.

From now on, have a check up every year. It pays for itself.

Also, one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is closing vents in some rooms to direct cool air to other rooms. He said A/C units are not meant to operate that way and backing up the air can actually damage some A/C parts.

In fact, some companies are canceling pre-scheduled tune-ups just to respond to all the emergency repairs.

“It’s miserable. You’re sticky, you’re uncomfortable, you can’t sleep,” said one anxious homeowner, who came home from work to find that her air conditioning had broken down.

This client had to suffer in the sweltering heat until an HVAC repair technician came to her rescue.

“Inside it was hot and sticky. The whole family is miserable.” said the homeowner.

We are getting getting as many as 100 calls a day asking for emergency repairs. But don’t worry as we have on-call crews working around the clock to meet the heightened demand.

Avoiding Emergency HVAC Repairs

We suggest changing the filter is probably the best thing that a homeowner can do. A clogged filter makes the unit run longer, putting more stress on the equipment, causing it to breakdown. Also, you waste a lot of money needlessly.

Some heating and cooling problems are unavoidable.We often repair A/C units that stopped working when its capacitor broke. These often suffer heat damage from the extreme weather.

The homeowner made matters worse when he tried to turn on the A/C anyway and caused the compressor to overheat.

A capacitor could take a couple hours for it to cool off, so try running water over it cool it off.

In most cases, a simple filter change and getting a tune up, something most commercial property managers and home owners have not done in years, would have kept the A/C running through the night.

From now on, have a check up every year. It pays for itself.

Also, one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is closing vents in some rooms to direct cool air to other rooms. He said A/C units are not meant to operate that way and backing up the air can actually damage some A/C parts.

When selecting an HVAC service contractor, check out the company’s background with the secretary of state office or the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org). Always confirm that the company is licensed and insured. If not, move on. There is no sense taking risks with your valuable heating and air equipment.

An annual spring maintenance tune-ups done is the best way to prevent unnecessary and costly repairs. Don’t always assume that when you turn your air conditioner on in the spring, and cold air comes out, that the air conditioner or heat pump is operating at peak performance. For instance, a dirty coil will continue to work but not efficiently.

Consumers should search the web for heating and cooling professionals with North American Technician Excellence certification and check references from friends and services like Google Plus, Customer Lobby, Kudzu and Angies List to find a good service company. It’s important to compare prices and service packages. When possible, get at least three estimates for any air conditioning repair work or maintenance work. Make sure everything is in writing and you have a full description of the services to be provided and the materials to be used.

Review warranty coverage with any services provided and make certain you understand the terms and conditions of the coverage. Also, be sure to check the warranty on your current air conditioning unit to determine whether any repairs or replacements may be covered.

An annual tune-up done in the spring will improve and prolong the life and performance of your HVAC equipment. Many installation companies offer maintenance packages that let customers pay an annual fee to cover tune-ups and get discounts on repairs and priority scheduling. Units should be serviced annually because they become clogged with pollen, leaves, dirt and dust. Components wear out and should be replaces before they fail, causing costly repairs on the hottest day of the year.

While air conditioning systems lower humidity while cooling the air, an AC unit alone can’t tackle serious humidity problems-and if you’re dealing with humidity in winter, you won’t be running the AC. That’s where a dehumidifier comes in. Dehumidifiers range from small units meant for a single room to whole-house systems for homes in areas that are extremely humid. They work by pulling damp air in, filtering the moisture out of the air using principles of condensation, and sending the dry air back out into your space. The water is collected in a reservoir that can be emptied out by hand or can drain into your plumbing or outside the building.

Dehumidification can greatly improve the comfort of your living environment. However, that’s not the only reason to consider installing a dehumidifier in your home. Dehumidification can also:

Prevent mold growth: Mold thrives in a damp, dark environment, and excessive humidity indoors creates that ideal habitat. Once mold takes hold in your basement, crawlspace, or other area, it can spread rapidly. Mold spores in the air can take the outbreak to other areas of your home. Mold creates unsightly stains on your walls and ceiling, and can cause an array of health issues, including respiratory problems. By incorporating a dehumidification strategy in your whole home or in problem areas, you can make your house inhospitable to mold.

Improve your health: The health problems that result from mold growth-allergies, asthma attacks, coughing, and more-aren’t the only issues related to living in an overly moist space. Excessive humidity can also mean a surge in bacteria, dust mites, and various pests, all of which can cause allergic reactions and other health concerns. In general, humidity control can deter pests such as cockroaches and silverfish, make your home cleaner, and improve the air quality, directly benefiting your health.

Protect your home’s structure: Water damage and excessive humidity can weaken your foundation and soften structural supports in your walls. If exposed to enough moisture over time, wood beams can become susceptible to rot and, eventually, collapse. You can protect your investment in your home and your family’s safety by taking steps to control humidity in the house.
Keep in mind that if your moisture problem is severe, a dehumidifier alone might not be the answer. Look into where the moisture is coming from. Do you have a foundation or plumbing leak that needs to be addressed? Do you need basement waterproofing to keep groundwater from seeping in? Do you need to improve ventilation in your bathroom? Contact a company that specializes in humidity control and waterproofing for residential properties to create a plan of action in your home. Your comfort, health, and safety depend on it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7197880

As a homeowner, you want to keep your utility costs as low as possible. When it comes to these costs, air conditioning plays a very significant role. While some people think of steps like ensuring their lights are turned off and not letting water run for long periods of time, the truth is those aspects of utility consumption only account for a small fraction of the total cost. If you want to noticeably bring down your charges, you need to focus on the large impact that your air conditioner can have.

One of the most common reasons that homeowners end up paying more than they should for utilities each month is because they make one or more mistakes with their AC unit. The good news is once you’re aware of those mistakes, it’s actually quite easy to avoid them. To keep your utility costs under control, here are the mistakes you need to avoid:

Letting It Run When You’re Away

During the peak months of summer, you never want the inside of your home to be scorching hot. Not only will it be quite uncomfortable when you walk inside, but very high indoor temperatures have the potential to damage sensitive electronics.

That being said, when you’re away at work, there’s no reason to keep your home as cool as you do when you’re there. It’s fine to let the temperature in your home raise by five or even ten degrees during the time you’re gone. Then when you get home, it won’t take long for your air conditioning to cool your house back down to where you want it.

You can even use a timer if you want your home to be cooled down when you arrive. And while this may not seem like that big of a change, since it can mean up to eight hours a day that your AC doesn’t have to run, the cumulative impact over the course of a month can be quite significant!

Trying to Hide the Exterior Unit

It would be difficult to find someone who thinks that standard AC units are attractive. Because of their box shape and generally dull colors, these units aren’t going to win any design awards. But even though they’re not the greatest looking doesn’t mean that you should try to hide them.

When a homeowner does attempt to hide their exterior unit, they generally do so with things like shrubs or bushes. While it’s not difficult to see why they think that decision is a good one, the truth is it simply increases the likelihood of that homeowner having an ongoing problem with their AC unit getting clogged or not running at peak efficiency.

Since those problems can increase utility costs, as well as require paying a technician to get out all of the junk that’s clogged up the unit, you can save yourself headaches and money by putting your unit in an area where it’s not obstructed.

Not Upgrading to a More Efficient Unit

Even if your unit still runs, if it’s over five years old, it may make sense to upgrade to a new air conditioning unit. An experienced service company can sit down with you and crunch the numbers to see just how much you can save by upgrading to a new unit.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7702127

Also referred to as IAQ, indoor air quality can be the cause of a few different things. Mold, bacteria, and gas are just a few of the big names that can pollute your IAQ. All of these are hazardous to your health – especially if you have asthma.

Mold may be considered the most common home invader. It is fairly easy to avoid, but it can be quite the pain to get rid of once it is already in the building. Often times mold can mean the demolition of entire walls if not taken care of in time. The frustrating thing about mold is that the problem will only continue to spread if left untreated. Not only that but it is often times in places where you cannot see it! The fungus can be the cause of a leaky pipe, moisture, improper ventilation, etc.

The general idea is that mold is always linked to moisture in any form. It could be because the dry wall did not dry fast enough or it could be because of moisture is getting into cracks in the building. No matter what the cause, just know that mold is NOT something you want in your home. On top of health hazards, moulds are very detrimental to a building’s foundation. The foundation can become unsafe and deteriorate over time all because of unwanted mold/moisture.

The way to rid (or remediate) mold is by first having your indoor air quality tested. There are infrared tests that are capable of virtually pinpointing where the problem areas are even if not visible to the naked eye. If a problem is found, then remediate procedures are necessary to bring your air quality back up to desirable conditions.

If you feel that your building may have poor IAQ, it is highly urged to have your building tested. Things like Carbon Monoxide, Radon, and Mold, are not things you want to make roommates with. In order to guarantee your living space is safe, have your indoor air quality tested and consider other preventative maintenance techniques like dehumidifiers, air purifiers, and duct cleaning.

via Improving Indoor Air Quality | Trusted Quality Dallas Air Conditioning Repair Company.

Freon is an important part of what makes many central air conditioners work, and there’s even less of it available these days than service experts had expected.

“(Customers) definitely will be paying more than last year,” said a local HVAC contractor.

Freon is a refrigerant, also known as R-22 or HCFC-22 on outdoor condensers. R-22 is an ozone-depleting substance, so the government is phasing out its use.

“My concern is customers are going to be shocked if they’re not informed of the situation.”

He said the problem is that R-22 is being phased out faster than originally planned. There will be a 45-percent reduction in the amount available, compared to 2011.

“If it cost you roughly $200 last year, it will cost you close to $280 this year.” said the AC repair contractor.

“I think originally we knew we’d have to start replacing, but this Freon issue, it’s just a better way to replace it. More of a reason to take the time,” said the homeowner.

She chose to replace her air conditioner instead of repairing the old one. After talking to the company she uses, she decided to have them install a new unit that takes an ozone-friendlier alternative, R410-A.

Those units require replacing other parts, like the evaporator coil.

With the arrival of scorching summer days, some homeowners will get a shock when they see the bill to replenish the coolant in their their old air conditioner.

The refrigerant that powers their central cooling system, known as R-22, has become a rare and valuable commodity.

“Since the beginning of the year, the price of R-22 has skyrocketed,” said Brian Roberts, of Hentkowski Inc., which provides heating and cooling service and installation. “It can get expensive just for the refrigerant, and you have to fix the leak, too.”

Roberts said his company has charged $125 to $150 per pound recently for the chemical, and even a pound or two could add a significant cost. The wholesale cost for the chemical is roughly 10 times what it was four years ago, he said.

The high price is the result of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plan to phase out the ozone unfriendly R-22. The vast majority of AC systems installed in 2009 or earlier used that type of refrigerant. The EPA mandated a 75 percent cut in the production of R-22 starting in 2010. In 2015, production will fall by 90 percent. And it will stop entirely in 2020.

The sharp drop in supply has helped push prices to their current levels.

However, most homeowners will be spared the expense, for now at least. If your unit is relatively new, in good working order and not leaking, you shouldn’t need any more freon than you already have, local contractors said.

The tough decisions will be for homeowners with systems more than 10 years old. If an old air conditioner springs a leak, it’s likely to be an ongoing problem and a more expensive repair each time as R-22 gets more scarce.

The new coolant is not compatible with old R-22 systems, which has led more consumers to consider buying a new unit, powered by the cleaner coolant R410a, sooner than they would otherwise.

Posted on May 30, 2013 by admin

SYRACUSE, N.Y., May 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ – The new Carrier® WeatherExpert™ 10-ton unit exceeds the parameters of the recent Department of Energy (DOE) Rooftop Unit (RTU) Challenge, providing an Integrated Energy Efficiency Ratio (IEER) of 20.8 – more than 15 percent more efficient than the required minimum of 18.0 IEER. Carrier, the world’s leader in high technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions, is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

In an effort to spur the market introduction of cost-effective, high-performance commercial rooftop air conditioners, the DOE created the RTU Challenge, enlisting manufacturers to develop a 10-ton unit that meets the 18.0 IEER-specifications by April 1, 2013. The DOE focused on rooftop units that are used in nearly half of all commercial cooling systems in the U.S. If all the 10-ton units currently sold nationwide were built using this new 18.0 IEER criteria, businesses would reduce energy use by half, compared to current equipment, saving about $40 million annually in energy costs.[1]

As an innovator and market leader, Carrier embraced the RTU Challenge and committed to the energy savings initiative more broadly with its entire line of WeatherExpert models ranging from 3- to 23-ton units reaching a high-IEER rating of 21.0, making the WeatherExpert one of the most efficient packaged rooftop units available.

“When the DOE announced its RTU Challenge, we accepted immediately and enthusiastically,” statedGreg Alcorn, vice president, commercial sales and marketing, Carrier. “Carrier is committed to developing energy efficient solutions, so this challenge aligned perfectly with our priorities and market position. The DOE has taken a big step forward in improving the efficiency of the commercial cooling industry with the RTU Challenge, and Carrier is proud to be at the forefront of that movement.”

To learn more about Carrier’s energy management solutions, visit www.commercial.carrier.com. Follow Carrier on Twitter: @carriergreen.

ABOUT CARRIER

Carrier is the world’s leader in high technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions. Carrier experts provide sustainable solutions, integrating energy-efficient products, building controls, and energy services for residential, commercial, retail, transport and foodservice customers. Founded by the inventor of modern air conditioning, Carrier improves the world around us through engineered innovation and environmental stewardship. Carrier is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. Visitwww.carrier.com for more information.

[1] According to data from the U.S. Department of Energy

SOURCE Carrier