Air Conditioning and Furnace Repair in Austin: energy efficient ac austin

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Friday, January 17, 2014

6 Tips for Managing Your Home Cooling Costs

Air conditioners run all summer long in Austin homes. Because our cooling systems are in constant use, it is typical to see large utility bills during the hottest months. Even if you have an older system, it is possible to lower your energy costs without sacrificing your family’s comfort. Here are a few tips to help you manage your cooling costs more efficiently.

1. Seal drafts and air leaks. Air leaks let cooled air out through small cracks and gaps under doors and around window frames. Sealing these leaks with silicone or latex caulk will keep the air inside where it belongs and keep your air conditioner from working overtime trying to keep things cool. When your system cycles too frequently it uses more energy and puts more stress on the working parts causing them to wear out sooner.

2. Change your air filters regularly. Inexpensive air filters should be changed monthly with higher-efficiency filters changed every three months. An electrostatic filter is an economical choice because it can be hosed off and reused because it is made out of charged metal so it attracts dust and other particles.

3. Get a system tune-up. A system that is working properly will also use less energy than one that isn’t. Keep to a regular maintenance schedule to keep things running smooth. You should also have a pre-season check every year prior to the beginning of the cooling season.

4. Keep windows and doors tightly closed. You probably have no idea how many times a day the doors are opened and closed on a daily basis. Young children often leave doors open or don’t close them all the way and that can let precious cooled air leak out.

5. Do laundry or wash dishes in the evening when it is cooler. Most utility companies’ rates are cheaper in the evenings after 7pm. The rates per kilowatt hour are lower because these are considered off-peak hours or low-usage hours. To maximize savings, do your laundry or run the dishwasher later in the evening when rates drop. It also puts less moisture in the air for your air conditioner to remove which means less cycling on and off.

6. Set your thermostat at 78 degrees and raise it one or two degrees when you go to bed. You can raise it as much as 5 degrees if you use a fan while you sleep. Fans do not really cool the air they just remove the heat that surrounds your body making you feel cooler.

All of these tips will help you lower energy consumption and manage your cooling costs. If your cooling system isn’t running as efficiently as it should, contact us at ABA Heating and Cooling. We can evaluate your current system and recommend a solution to your inefficient cooling problem.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Improving the Efficiency of Your Central Air Conditioner in Austin

Summer utility bills can be lowered by making your air conditioner operate more efficiently. Many people do things that make their system work harder like leaving windows or doors open, use dishwashers on “heated dry” settings or use their ovens that let extra heat in that has to be removed and conditioned by your cooling system. Here are some tips for making your air conditioner operate more efficiently:

Block Heat Transfer

Heat transference occurs when the sun hits your windows during the hottest part of the day. It can heat up a room in no time making your air conditioner work harder to cool the space. It is best to cover windows with a heavy curtain, window shades or other material to block or deflect the heat rays. Mirrored or tinted window film also blocks a lot of the heat and UV rays from sun-facing windows.

Change Air Filters Monthly

In the summer, it is best to change air filters monthly due to continuous system use. Austin summers are hot and that means that the filters are going to get pretty dirty collecting dust, pet hair, smoke, mold and allergens from getting in your ventilation system. Air filters keep particles from clogging up the moving parts of your air conditioner or furnace but when dirty, it can restrict air flow through the system and put stress on the motor and ductwork.

Use Programmed Settings

Use programmed settings even on days that everyone is home. Most people will set their thermostats to run at a lower temperature while they are away but then override it temporarily because they came home early. If you keep the settings as they are you will save more money because your air conditioner will be running efficiently for longer periods and your body will get used to a slightly higher temperature.

Make Use of Existing Fans

Using fans in combination with your air conditioner allows you to raise the temperature a few degrees without sacrificing comfort. Fans do not cool the air in the room, they cool the pocket of air around your body making you feel cooler. If you sleep better when it’s cool, turn on your fan and raise the setting on your air conditioner. The fan will cool you by blowing cool air around you and you won’t even notice the temperature difference. You will, however, notice the savings on your monthly utility bills.

Replace Your Old System

AC replacement is recommended if your cooling system is more than 12 years old or you have had numerous repairs in the past year. Energy Star models are more energy-efficient and government rebates can help defray some of the costs of new installation.

ABA Heating and Cooling are experts in AC repair and replacement. Call us for all of your heating and cooling needs. Out technicians are NATE-certified and we have been serving the residents of Austin for many years.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

The Importance of Air Filters for Energy Efficiency

Air filters are an important part of keeping your heating and cooling system clean. When used properly, they collect dust, allergens and microscopic particles that would otherwise be trapped inside our homes making the indoor air dirty. Filters do a lot to improve air quality and make furnaces and air conditioning systems more efficient.

Air Filters Clean the Air

Air filters are created to be dust magnets. When your air conditioner or furnace blower kicks on, it blows heated or cooled air through the ventilation system and into the rooms along with any dust particles that may have settled into the vents. That air is then pushed back through the air intake vents by the air handler where it cycles all over again. As the air is pushed through the system, the particles of dust, hair, mold and other allergens get caught in the filters which keep them from getting back into the circulating air making it cleaner for us to breathe.

Filters Improve Efficiency

Not only do filter keep the air clean by blocking a lot of particles that would make the air dirty, but by doing this, they also make your air conditioning system run more efficiently. Dust, hair, pet dander and mold spores can get into the ductwork, blower motors and evaporator coils making them dirty and clogging them up. The system cannot run efficiently in this state and must be turned off and cleaned thoroughly. Restricted airflow through the system due to dirty filters can damage the system due to pressure buildup.

How often to change- air filters need to be checked monthly and replaced as needed.

Types of Air Filters

•    HEPA Filters-are 99.99% effective at removing the tiniest of microscopic germs from the air and trapping them within the layers of these filters. They are the most widely recommended type of filters for us in air conditioning and heating systems.
•    Electrostatic Air Filters-attract dirt particles like a magnet and are easy to clean. These filters are little more economic due to the fact that they can be washed and reused.
•    Panel Filters- these are the most commonly known filters and are available at most hardware and home improvement stores as well as a few larger retailers. These have the paper accordion look to them and can be purchased for a few dollars.

Changing air filters is an important step in keeping your system well-maintained. ABA Heating and Cooling has been providing comfort to Austin residents for over 20 years. Their team of expert, NATE-certified technicians is dedicated to keeping your central air conditioning system running at its optimum best. Call us for quick and speedy service or to install your next cooling system.