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How much DO YOU know about home cooling? Lessons for getting the most out of your A/C system By Michael DeBerdine, III, CEO, The Rhoads Energy family of companies
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t won’t be long before we’ll be seeing school buses making their way through our neighborhoods, but, have no fear, we’ve still got plenty of warm, summer days remaining – and plenty of chances to give our A/C systems a workout. With that in mind, I thought this might be a good opportunity to combine the still-peak summer temperatures and upcoming back-to-school preparations to offer this short quiz about A/C systems. A little knowledge can go a long way, for homeowners and the contractors who serve them. And what you don’t know? That could result in a few uncomfortable days without a cooling system, higher energy bills, or a shorter lifespan for your cooling system.
TAKE THE QUIZ … With the help of the A/C experts at E.G. Smith, Inc. and Boyertown Oil & Propane, we’ve assembled a few true-or-false questions about your home A/C system, as well as some answers to help keep your home more comfortable, longer, while keeping costs down:
True or False: Cooling underperformance can be caused by leaky ductwork. TRUE:
If it feels like your system isn’t creating enough cool air, it could be that the cold air is never reaching your living environment. Leaks in the ductwork that delivers cool air to your home can cause a 20-40% reduction in the efficiency of your system. If your system doesn’t seem to be working properly, arrange to have a duct inspection by an experienced HVAC team. A trained professional can identify problems, seal leaks and insulate certain ducts if necessary.
True or False: There’s not much you can do to lighten the load on your system during a hot, humid day. FALSE: Homeowners can help their A/C system
work better by reducing the size of the job it has, according to ASHRAE, a leading industry group of cooling engineers that offers several 18
AT HOME IN BERKs AUGUST 2016
ideas. First, shut off unneeded electrical appliances, lights and equipment that generate heat. Next, whenever possible shift your appliance use (such as washers and dryers) to cooler times of the day. Finally, you can help your A/C system by taking steps to remove humidity from your living environment. That includes using exhaust fans to remove humidity that builds up in bathrooms or in the kitchen. Also, do not open windows and doors that can let moisture in on a humid day.
True or False: Ceiling fans and air conditioning work well together. TRUE: Fans create a wind chill effect, and draw
warm air to a room’s ceiling, both of which can add comfort to a home. In fact, if you cool with an air conditioning system, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort, according to Energy.gov.
True or False: All A/C warranties are essentially the same. FALSE: All
central air-conditioning systems carry warranties, but what those warranties cover – and for how long – can vary dramatically among manufacturers. Find out whether your system is still under warranty and what, specifically, it covers.