Keep your home cool this summer while saving money on A/C costs.

As the summer approaches and temperatures rise, there are many things you can do to decrease the costs of cooling your home. By following the advice below you can save energy while assuring comfort during the hottest days.

Properly maintain your air conditioner.

Before the summer arrives it’s a good idea to tune up your home’s air conditioner or heat pump. Several studies show that keeping an air conditioner properly serviced can save up to 30 percent on operating costs and protect the equipment from early failure. Here’s a list of several items that should be checked to ensure your home’s air conditioner is providing maximum comfort this summer and not wasting your money:

• Change the filter if you haven’t done so recently. The filter for the system helps keep dust and other debris from sticking to the blower and air conditioning coils inside your home’s heat pump, air conditioner or furnace. A dirty filter can block the flow of air, increasing operating costs and damaging the equipment. For a standard 1-inch thick panel filter, the type commonly sold in grocery and hardware stores, changing it every few months is usually adequate.
• Have the indoor coil cleaned. The indoor coil, sometimes called evaporator coil, is located inside the heat pump or air conditioner cabinet. All the air from the home flows across this coil to be cooled during the summer. While using air conditioning, the indoor coil is damp; it attracts dirt and can harbor mold and other contaminants. A dirty indoor coil endangers your family’s health, wastes energy and cuts the capacity of the cooling equipment. The coil should be cleaned every few years but is often inaccessible without cutting into the ductwork so it may be advisable to hire a service technician. Ask the technician to inspect and clean the blower wheel at the same time.
• Check your ductwork. Sealing ductwork is usually the most important energy improvement for new and older homes. Duct leakage often accounts for 10 to 30 percent of total heating and cooling costs. Airsealing your entire home, especially walls, is also extremely beneficial. By creating a tighter building envelope, or structure of your house, you reduce the amount of heat and moisture that enters your home. For some houses, air leaks can contribute to over 30% of cooling costs.
• Ensure good air flow to outside unit. The piece of cooling equipment located outdoors contains a condensing coil, a type of heat exchanger, which depends on large quantities of air flow to transfer heat from your home to outside. Keep this equipment clear (at least two feet on all sides) of tall grass, leaves and other debris to prevent air restriction. And do not enclose equipment within fencing or under a deck. The condensing coil should be cleaned about every year and that cleaning is usually part of a regular service contract.

How you operate the equipment can also affect your energy bills.

To get the most out of your heat pump or air conditioner for the least cost—operate it efficiently. Try keeping the room air temperature at 80 to 85 degrees and using ceiling and room fans to circulate the air and create a light breeze to maintain comfort. Each degree you raise the thermostat can save up to 5 percent on cooling costs. Any time you will be away from the house for a few hours, be sure to set the thermostat up. You will save money, and it should only take a few minutes for the cooling equipment to bring the temperature back to a comfortable level when you return. Consider installing a programmable thermostat to automatically change the temperature at night or when you are not home.

There are also strategies for beating the heat without air conditioning.

First, keep the sunlight outside. Draw all window shades during the day to block solar heat. Over 20 percent of your air conditioning bill can be due to sunlight streaming through unshaded windows. Keeping east and west windows shaded is particularly important as they get the most sunlight in summer. Solar shade screens, inexpensive white roller shades, window films, trellises and arbors are all effective at shading windows.

Another method for cooling is to create a breeze with fans. Consider installing a whole house fan to draw in cool air in the evenings. Finally, adjust your lifestyle to stay cool. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, and avoid beverages containing caffeine or alcohol. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing. Schedule heat-producing activities, such as cooking or clothes drying, for cooler hours. For more information on passively cooling your home, visit Florida Solar Energy Center’s website, www.fsec.ucf.edu.

Southface authored publications online The Home Energy Projects for Do-It-Yourselfers offers handy, practical tips for saving energy in the home. This 93-page publication is available for free, online in acrobat pdf format. Tips for home cooling are discussed ranging from instructions on installing a whole-house fan to simple lifestyle advice. In addition, factsheets on choosing heating and cooling equipment, duct sealing, air sealing, air filtration and more energy topics are also available. You can also have your questions answered directly by calling the Southface hotline at 404-872-3549 or e-mailing info [at] southface.org.