Helpful Air Conditioning Facts

Thermostat Setting

Set your thermostat lower in the winter and higher in the summer. According to the Florida Solar Energy Center, for each degree below 78 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and above 68 degree Fahrenheit in the winter, the energy usage in the home is increased by 10 to 12 percent. Set the thermostat and leave it, Heat pumps, in particular, use more energy if the thermostat is raised in increments of more than 3 degrees at a time in the winter. Adjusting the thermostat by more degrees at once can activate the back-up heat strips to bring up the temperature quickly.

Programmable Thermostats

The installation of a digital programmable thermostat helps to regulate the temperature greatly and reduce the amount of energy used in the home. For the best energy efficiency, thermostat settings should be 78 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit for the A/C in summer and 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit for the heat in winter.

Heat Pumps (HVAC System)

The best heating system for Florida is a high efficiency heat pump. The heat pump saves 65 to 70 percent for heating energy use over electric strip heating systems. However, they do need to be serviced every year to maintain efficiency. Faulty relays in these systems can cause both the heat pump and the back-up strip heaters to come on repeatedly in winter and summer resulting in very high energy use. Replacement of older electric strip heat pumps can greatly reduce the winter energy usage.

Leaky Ducts

Leaks in the duct work are amongst the largest energy wasters inmost homes, both site built and mobile homes. Leaks are more prevalent in most homes over 10 years old. Leaks in the return duct work pressurize the home and raises the supply temperature. It also introduces higher humidity into the system cutting energy efficiency ratings (EER) by as much as 50 percent.

Supply system leaks will send conditioned air outside through the infiltration routes and depressurize the home. These pressure differences extend the HVAC unit’s running time causing an average 22 percent increase in energy usage. New methods of sealing the duct connections with masking material are not expensive and will greatly reduce leakage and higher energy use.

Interior Door Closure

If internal room doors are closed in homes with only one air return (prevalent in older homes and mobile homes), a pressure imbalance is created in the system. This imbalance results in longer running time for the equipment and higher energy use. Closing all interior doors can increase the energy usage to condition the home by 35 to 45 percent.

Infiltration

Caulking and weather-stripping should be checked at least yearly and repairs made when problems are detected. Even small air leaks around doors, windows, and electrical outlets can extend HVAC running time and increase energy usage in the home during winter or summer.