Summer is coming and you might be in the market to replace your old ac unit. So how do you know what to buy? Here are some tips.
Don’t buy a larger air conditioner than you need.
Most people think bigger is better, but that is not always the case. According to Consumer Reports and The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), an AC unit too large or powerful for your room will turn off its compressor before it’s had a chance to “lower” the humidity level in the room. The results will be a room that is cold, clammy, and uncomfortable.
To figure out what size air conditioner you need for you room, measure the size of the room first. Then multiply the length by the width and that total is your square footage. You can use a chart or calculation provided by a manufacturer (usually available on their website) to determine how many BTUs (or British Thermal Units) you need your air conditioner to produce.
Consider your climate and other factors when purchasing an air conditioner.
Do you live in a hot and humid climate or it more of a dry heat? How many windows does the room have? Is it shady? What direction is the window facing? Consumer Reports provides as interactive worksheet that takes all these items into account, as does AHAM. To find out what type or air conditioner you need, visit AHAM’s interactive worksheet and see your results based on region, the structure of your house, and the people and activities inside of it.
After finding the correct AC for your home, try to purchase a unit that is energy efficient and look for the “AHAM-certified” seal. According to the AHAM’s website, “Models certified through AHAM’s program have been tested and their performance verified by an independent laboratory, assuring consumers that the product will perform according to the manufacturer’s product claims for BTU’s per hour, amps and efficiency.”
So what if you do not own a new air conditioner or can’t afford to buy one? There are ways to make your current air conditioner work better and be more energy efficient. Sign up for the AP Wagner Newsletter and get some valuable tips on how to make your old air conditioner more energy efficient and how to cut down on summer energy bills.
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Categories: Air Conditioner · Air Conditioner Parts · Go Green · News · Save Money
Tagged: Air Conditioner, buying tips, help, parts, Save Money
Use these tips to save money and keep cool during the summer.
- Weather-proof your home. Most people associate weather proofing and drafts as an activity you do when preparing for winter. However, weather proofing is just as valuable in the summer especial when drafts lead to cool air leaking out and hot air seeping in.
- Air infiltration will also cause your in-room air conditioner or HVAC system to work harder to cool more which in turn increase your electric bills.
- Check for drafts around windows, doors and vents to the exterior, like extraction fans or clothes dryer vents. Use a stick of incense to detect air movement and to see if you have a draft.
- Check the weather stripping on your windows and doors and replace if needed.
- Use spray foam or the proper calk (there are several kinds and this story helps explain them well) around windows and doors to fill small gaps and holes. Also check around outlets, cable jacks, telephone lines and dryer vents for gaps that causes air to escape.
- The recommended minimum setting for energy efficiency during the summer is 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a programmable thermostat to decrease the temperatures in your home only when you are in it. According to this article from The Rancho Cordova Post, a programmable thermostat can save you over $100 per year over the non-programmable kinds.
- If you are going to be away from home for more than four hours, turn the AC off. If you are going to be gone less than two, keep the AC level the same.
- Purchase a whole house fan or ceiling fan to circulate cool air throughout your home.
- Skip the oven and cook using a microwave or grill outside in order to reduce the residual heat caused by a stove.
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Properly maintain your air conditioner
- Change or clean the air filter (if you have a reusable filter.) It is recommended that you clean of change the air filter on your air conditioner at least twice a month during cooling season.
- Clean the dust off of your air conditioners coils with a coil brush. Remove the cover and use a soft brush, vacuum, or compressed air to clean the coils. The coils need to be clean for proper heat transfer.
- Straighten any AC fins that might have gotten bent over the year or while in storage.
- Dirty air conditioner parts and a dirty filter can cause your unit to work harder. Not only does this wear on the unit, it costs you more money to run the unit in the first place.
- When purchasing a new in-room air conditioner, buy only what you need. Measure the size of the room first and then multiply the length by the width and that total is your square footage. You can use a chart or calculation provided by a manufacturer (usually available on their website) to determine how many BTUs you need your air conditioner to handle. You will also want to take into account how shady or sunny the room will be. Add ten percent more for a sunny room, and take ten percent away for shaded rooms.
6. Unplug your phone charger and small appliances when not in use.
7. Only run your dishwasher and washing machine when you have full loads.
8. Lines dry your clothes and skip the clothes dryer for the summer and even into the fall.
9. Check with your local utility company to see if they offer any rebates of credits for purchasing programmable thermostats, Energy efficient air conditioning units, attic insulation. In Florida, the City of Ocala Electric 10. Utility is offer rebates on home heating and cooling upgrades and other energy-efficient appliances. Check with your local utility company to see what they offer.
11. Any energy-efficient improvements you make to your home might be viable for the federal tax credit. Areas covered include windows and doors, insulation, and HVAC improvements, check the EnergyStar.Gov Website to see what you need to do in order to qualify.
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Categories: Air Conditioner · Appliance Parts · Go Green · Samsung Parts · Save Money
Tagged: AC, Air Conditioner, appliance, bills, cool, electric, energy, money, parts, rebates, save, Tips, useage, utility
Frigidaire is trying to help out dear old mom by launching a new line of 250 appliances with specific time-saving devices that aims to give moms, “eight hours of extra time a month.”
Also, if you are not satisfied that the new appliances have given you more “me time, you can return them for a refund. The More Me Time Guarantee runs from May 10, 2009 through December 31, 2009 and requires the completion of sign-up form at time of purchase and only at participating dealers.
So how does Frigidaire plan to save consumers (and moms especially) more time? By adding such time-saving features as Frigidaire Dishwasher Power Plus™ Dry so moms do not have to hand dry dishes that are not fully dry from the dishwasher. Washer and dryers that will complete their cycles in unison so that you do not have to waste time waiting for both loads to be done and ovens that preheat in less than six minutes.
Frigidaire also claims its new ovens reduces cooking times by 30 percent and will have more oven space so more cooking can be done at the same time through their Fits-More™ Oven.
Frigidaire is also running two giveaways; visit http://www.mymotherload.net/ and submit five things you would do with an extra hour and you will be entered in to win a suite of new Frigidaire appliances.
The “Daily Dare” contest is giving away a new Frigidaire Affinity front-load washer and dryer. Enter the Daily Dare now.
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Frigidaire is trying to help out dear old mom by launching a line of 2509 appliances with specific time-saving devices that aims to give moms eight hours of extra time a month.
Also, if women purchasing three of more new Frigidaire appliances with the new time-saving features are not satisfied that their “me time” has not increased , they can return the appliances and get their money back. The More Me Time Guarantee runs from May 10, 2009 through December 31, 2009 and requires the completion of sign-up form at time of purchase and only at participating dealers.
So how does Frigidaire plan to save consumers (and moms especially) more time? By such features as the Frigidaire Dishwasher Power Plus™ Dry so moms do not have to hand dry dishes that are not fully dry, washer and dryers that complete their cycles in the same amount of time, and ovens that preheat in less than six minutes.
Frigidaire also claims its ovens reduces cooking times by 30 percent and will have more oven space so more cooking can be done at the same time through their Fits-More™ Oven.
They are also having a giveaway, visit http://www.mymotherload.net/ and submit five things you would do with an extra hour and you will be entered in to win a suite of new Frigidaire appliances. Frigidaire is also holding a “Daily Dare” contest and giving away a new Frigidaire Affinity front-load washer and dryer. Enter the Daily Dare now.
More information
Categories: Appliance News · Frigidaire
Tagged: Appliances, features, Frigidaire, giveaways, new, parts, time saving
