As summer approaches, those of us without central air are getting ready to go through the annual ritual of installing our window air conditioners. However, were you aware that a bad installation can actually raise your electricity costs and make it harder to say cool? Here are some tips to help you put your air conditioner in the right way.
1. Always make sure that the air conditioner is sized appropriately for your window.
It sounds overly simplistic, but air conditioners really only come in a few widths, and windows are very different. If you have an older house, you may have very narrow windows, while newer homes may have wider windows. Although many air conditioners do come with little plastic curtains that can stretch to either side, this is not a very effective means of keeping the heat out.
Try to find an air conditioner that is as close as possible to the width of your window. If you can’t find the perfect fit, consider using a more substantial material to provide a closer fit between the window and the air conditioning unit. Plywood painted to match your house is a great and easy fix for this problem.
2. Always make sure that you use a foam strip above and below the unit.
This is something that many people forget when they are installing their window air conditioners. That strip is going to help block out hot air from coming into your house and it is important to make sure that it is the right size for your window. It is a good idea to put it on the bottom and top of the unit for the best results.
In addition to helping with energy savings, that foam strip will also help your air conditioner run a lot quieter. The vibration from the unit can be pretty irritating when it is rattling a double pane window. By installing the foam, you’re cutting down on how much vibration will actually reach the glass.
3. If you have an old unit, it’s time to upgrade.
Today’s air conditioners are much more energy efficient and easier to install than the units of old. Gone are the clunky boxes that take two people to heft into the window and gone are the sky high electric bills. Many of today’s air conditioners can be run for about the same cost as a lamp, while the older models are closer to a chest freezer.
It is also a good idea to replace an air conditioner that is more than ten years old. The parts on these models do wear out and the Freon will not be as effective as it once was. The result is that the unit has to work harder to make it cooler in your home and you end up spending a lot more money.
Lastly, always make sure that your air conditioner is not on the side of the house where it will be exposed to constant sun. It makes it harder for the unit to run and it will not be able to keep your room cool.
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Originally posted 2008-12-04 08:16:42. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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Air Conditioning, Handy Man, Install, Low Budget
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2 comments ↓
Great post.
If people need to upgrade their window air conditioner, they should definitely consider doing so soon and take advantage of the Federal tax credit for buying energy efficient appliances.
agreed. it’s our own tax money after all, might as well do whatever we can to get some of it back while simultaneously improving our homes.
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