Publication date: 07/17/2009

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Make your air conditioning system more efficient

We are getting to that point in the summer where we are starting to close up the house and run the air conditioner more often. But just because we have air conditioning doesn't mean that the inside of our home will be comfortable. Some rooms may feel too hot, others too cold. And the air still can feel humid even though you are running your air conditioner night and day.

To improve your indoor comfort, you first need to understand what air conditioners can do. Air conditioners are designed to cool and dehumidify the air in your home. In order to do that, your air conditioner needs to run frequently so it can have time to take the humidity out of the air. Unfortunately, many people's air conditioners are oversized and actually cool the air too quickly, thereby hindering its ability to truly "condition your air. If you are planning to replace your old air conditioner, make sure your contractor does a heat gain study and replaces it with a properly sized and Energy Star-rated air conditioner that will make you more comfortable and save you money.

Another area of maintenance you should consider is getting your air ducts cleaned to get rid of any debris, dirt and other pollutants that can restrict your cooling system's air flow and contribute to your allergies. Some reputable duct cleaners include Dalton Environmental, (800) 675-2298; Dusty Ducts, (313) 381-7801; and Safety King (800) AIR-DUCT. Michael J. Palazzolo of Safety King also said that homeowners should consider getting their air conditioner's evaporator and condenser coils and blower fan cleaned to help the system work more efficiently.

"Dirty and clogged coils will reduce the cooling capacity of an air conditioner and reduce air flow," Mike said. "A recent study by Pacific Gas & Electric showed that cleaning the coil can increase energy efficiency by up to 30 percent." Mike said it costs around $150 for Safety King to clean the coils and blower fan, but the added energy savings quickly makes up for the cost of cleaning. He also recommends changing your furnace filter regularly to help filter the air, but doesn't recommend a MERV rating much higher than 8 because the higher-numbered filters can restrict air flow, which can lead to the evaporator coils icing up.

Controlling your indoor humidity is another way to keep your home comfortable in the summer. While your air conditioner should lower the humidity level in your home below 50 percent, it may not be doing that effectively. You can check your humidity level by buying a portable digital hygrometer at your local home center or hardware store. If you have too much humidity, you might be able to alleviate the problem with a portable dehumidifier that is Energy Star-rated. Brands include DeLonghi, (866) 528-8323, www.delonghi.com; Whirlpool, www.whirlpool.com; Frigidaire, (800) 374-4432, www.frigidaire.com; or Kenmore, (888) 536-6673, www.kenmore.com. You might also want to consider installing a whole-house dehumidification system from manufacturers Aprilaire, (888) 257-8801, www.aprilaire.com, or General Aire, (866) 476-5101, www.generalaire.com.

You could also look at a new thermostat control system from Honeywell, (800) 328-5111, www.forwardthinking.honeywell.com called the Prestige Comfort System that allows you to control both the temperature and the humidity level when combined with the company's True Dry whole house dehumidification system.

But remember, even the most efficient air conditioner is designed to lower the inside temperature 15 degrees cooler than the outside temperature. Also, when you leave your home for 8 hours or longer, dial up the temperature by 4 to 6 degrees. DO NOT TURN OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER. So make sure your home is well insulated, your air conditioning system is in good working order, your humidity is under control, and then pick a temperature you can live with, and let the air conditioner do its job.

Note: This article was accurate at the date of publication. However, information contained in it may have changed. If you plan to use the information contained herein for any purpose, verification of its continued accuracy is your responsibility.

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