Air conditioners can be a bust or boom. The trick lies in knowing which to use and how to use them.
Room air conditioners mounted on a window, or through the wall, are ideal for keeping small, comfortable havens against the worst of spring’s hot spells, especially if you live in Florida, like I do. They are more economical than central air conditioning. And because they are flexible, you cool only the rooms you are using.
But even a flexible single unit can be expensive. However for the sake of economics, calculate the size of the unit to the room. Usually, 500, 550, or 600 sq. ft. per ton (12,000 btu) based on the condition of the room.
When purchasing an air conditioner there are two rules to consider: A) Oversized air conditioners cool a room so fast, they don’t have time to dehumidify the room properly; B) Slightly undersized units are more efficient (and cost less to begin with). And don’t forget to check the energy-efficiency tags on different models for lowest -operating cost.
How To Keep a Room Cool With Minimum Use of the Air Conditioner
* Limit the use of the air conditioner in the “open vent" setting. It brings in hot outside air that the machine must work hard to keep cooling.
* Protect the room from the direct heat of the sun, with awnings, drapes or blinds.
* Turn off unnecessary lights. They add extra heat (fluorescent lights are coolest, but produce 25% more heat).
* Close off rooms that you are air conditioning.
* Turn off the unit if you will be out of the room for more than 30 minutes.
* If financially plausible, have room air conditioners serviced twice annually to keep them efficient. Likewise, replace filters monthly, keep the unit clean and lubricate the moving parts.
Choose the right size: Buying an air conditioner that is too large is also uneconomical. To find the most efficient machine: Divide the BTU rating by the watts rating (also on the label). If the resulting number (the energy-efficiency rating) is eight or more, it won’t run up your electric bill excessively.
Compare prices: Energy-efficient air conditioners cost more initially. Where use is heavy (the South) or electric rates are high (the Northwest) the price difference is probably worth the investment. Bonus: Experts maintain that energy- efficient air conditioners cool rooms faster, while others say just the opposite. Personally, I’ve discovered the latter to be true. But you’ll have to see which works best for you, instead of taking my word.
Extra Bonus Tip: If you are thinking of painting the outside of your home, choose a light color. Why? Because lighter colors absorb less illumination than their darker counterparts.
Now that you’ve read these tips, it’s time to rev up that air conditioner and let the cool breeze flow. Ah, don’t you just love spring?
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