Air conditioning can account for a major share of your home energy bills. A central AC unit is an expensive investment and should offer you value for money. ACs are far more energy efficient than they were 20-30 years ago. Sophisticated technologies and heightened awareness among customers have made energy efficient AC units more popular. High tech modern air conditioners are designed to consume less fuel and hence are more eco-friendly than older models.
When installing a unit get experienced professionals to install it. An improperly mounted AC unit would waste energy even though it might have superior efficiency ratings. Each unit must be installed in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions. The unit should preferably be placed in a shaded spot of your home. If exposed to direct sunlight, protect the unit by shading it with an awning or other device. Air circulation is critical to the efficient functioning of the unit. The external unit should not be shrouded by shrubbery as this obstructs air flow and will lower the efficiency of the unit.
A professional HVAC contractor can help you find the right sized equipment for your home. A larger unit does not necessarily provide faster and better cooling. On the contrary you end up wasting energy by installing a unit with more capacity than necessary. Such a unit consumes more energy and cools the room too quickly, without successfully removing humidity from the air. The room temperature falls, but the air feels damp with moisture, ruining furniture, draperies and encouraging growth of mold and mildew. Sizing can be done with professional help. Some key pointers to factor in when calculating capacity required cooling the space:
- If the room is in heavily shaded part of the house, the capacity can be reduced by 10%
- Increase the capacity by 10% if the room is in an area exposed to direct sunlight and remains sunny throughout the day
- Add 600 BTUs for every extra individual that occupies that space beyond two persons
- Increase the capacity by approximately 4,000 BTUs if the unit is installed in a kitchen space
The position of the unit inside the room will also affect its performance, installing in a corner will not help air flow. Ensure the air flow is not obstructed to get the maximum performance out of your air conditioning unit.
The thumb rule for sizing is 20 BTU for every square foot of living space to be cooled. If you have a large number of appliances like TVs and lamps in the room that emit heat, it can also adversely affect the performance of air conditioning. Simi Valley residents can find experienced contractors to install properly sized AC units in their homes.
Air Conditioning Simi Valley – If you are looking for efficient air conditioning, Simi Valley residents can contact the HVAC contractors at Kreimer Air. Visit the website for details.
