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These Air Conditioning Tips Can Save You Money

Air conditioning is the energy hog for summer in Missouri. According to consumer energy advisers, window units use 500 to 1,440 watts of electricity compared to 3,500 for central units. Contrast that to the 75 watts that a ceiling fan uses. All these watts add up to as much as 16 percent of your energy bill - even more when it's really hot and humid.

Start reducing that bill by replacing old units with new, efficient ones. That "good as new" 10-year-old unit may not be as good as you think it is. New energy-efficient models can save up to 50 percent on cooling bills, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Some websites with helpful information on air conditioning include those for Energy Star, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Department and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Energy Division. Don't forget your local cooperative and University of Missouri Extension office.

Here are some tips for reducing your air conditioning energy bill from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Department of Energy:

  • Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible - every degree you raise the thermostat uses about 3-4 percent less energy.
  • Use a programmable thermostat to adjust the setting on your air conditioner at night or when no one is home; avoid using the air conditioner when you are not home.
  • Use a fan with your window air conditioner to spread cool air effectively through your home.
  • Change filters once a month during the season and clean evaporator coils and condenser coils as needed; use a "fin comb" to reposition bent coil fins back to original.
  • Don't set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner; it won't cool your house any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense.
  • Don't place lamps or TVs near your air conditioner's thermostat; the heat from the appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer.
  • Shade your existing condenser with a screen or foliage so it's not in direct sunlight, or place it on the north side of your house if you are adding a new unit - you may reduce your energy cost by 1 percent to 2 percent; however, don't obstruct air flow around the unit.
  • Locate a room air conditioner in a window or wall near the center of the room and on the shadiest part of the house; seal gaps between the unit and the window with foam weatherstripping.

And don't forget... an easy way to block heat coming into your home is to close the shades on the south and west sides of the house.

Mini-split Systems Don't Need Ductwork

If you want to cool a room addition to your house where extending or installing ductwork would not be practical, then a mini-split air conditioner may be your answer. These systems work well in apartments or any kind of non-ducted home.

Mini-split systems, like central units, have an outdoor compressor/condenser and an indoor air-handling unit. Since they operate without ducts, mini-split systems don't lose energy through those ducts. They come in a variety of designs that give them flexibility. And because the outdoor and indoor components are connected with a simple conduit through a small hole in the wall, there are not the security issues that wall- and window-mounted air conditioners have.

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