FEATURES
How it’s changed — and tips for more efficient cooling
Michael DeBerdine, III
efore long, we’ll be back to those warm, humid days of summer—air conditioning season. Anyone who owns a home or business can benefit from an understanding of how central A/C systems work—and save money by understanding efficiency and maintenance.
so much more efficient that homeowners can save hundreds of dollars in operating costs over an older, outdated system. Other warning signs that an air conditioning system is in decline: equipment that does not properly cool specific areas of the home or a system that makes unusual noises while running.
In our region, most residential cooling systems are either air conditioners or heat pumps. An air conditioning system transfers the hotter air from inside your home to the outdoors, replacing it with cooler air. In simple terms, the air conditioner achieves this by forcing that hotter air across cooling coils filled with refrigerants.
When it comes to cooling your home, a little knowledge goes a long way toward comfort and savings. Here are a few common misconceptions about air conditioning—and some corresponding realities:
While air conditioners only replace warm air with cool air, a heat pump works both ways. In the cooling mode, the heat pump removes heat from the internal air of the home and pumps it to the outdoors. In heating mode, it reverses that process.
afford—it’ll provide more comfort, faster.
Whichever type of system you have, it pays to know 1) how efficient your system is, and 2) how old it is. Today’s systems are 16
AT HOME IN BERKs April 2016
Myth: Get the biggest system you can
Reality: Actually, too much capacity can make your A/C less efficient. An oversized system will cycle on and off frequently, making it difficult to reach peak operating temperatures and generating unnecessary wear and tear. That’s why it’s critical to have an HVAC professional size your unit.