Seasonal Tips to Save You Money On Your Utility Bill
Released on: December 27, 2007, 8:03 am
Press Release Author: Jamie Gerdsen
Industry: Consumer Services
Press Release Summary: 1. My thermostat is equipped with a two-position setting for the fan, "automatic" and "on". Where should I set it? 2. I see the arrow on my furnace filter, but I'm not sure how to correctly position it. What should I do? 3. How does an air conditioning system actually work to cool the air in my home? 4. What is a S.E.E.R. (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating and what does it mean to me? 5. I have trouble getting even amounts of heat/cooling to certain parts of my house. How can I get more even heating/cooling to the upstairs and downstairs of my home?
Press Release Body: My thermostat is equipped with a two-position setting for the fan, "automatic" and "on". Where should I set it?
The normal setting is on "automatic" with the fan's cycle being controlled by the temperature in the room. However, if your home is equipped with an air cleaner (media or electronic) or you wish to keep a continuous flow of air, switch the setting to "on". Remember, central air cleaning devices only work when the furnace is circulating air. If you wish to get the most from your air cleaner, you should keep your thermostat setting to "on".
I see the arrow on my furnace filter, but I'm not sure how to correctly position it. What should I do?
The arrow should point in the same direction as the flow of air. In most cases, it will point towards the furnace and should fit between the return air part of the system and the furnace. The filter screens out the dust and other impurities before the air is warmed in your furnace and distributed through the duct system.
How does an air conditioning system actually work to cool the air in my home?
An air conditioning system consists of two parts: an outdoor unit (where liquid refrigerant is contained) and an indoor coil (where the refrigeration is pumped into). As the air moves across the air conditioning coil (usually located on top of the furnace), the refrigerant removes the heat from the air as well as the moisture by condensing it on the cold surface of the coil. In this way, the air conditioner not only cools but also dehumidifies the air. Virtually any system can have air conditioning hooked up to it provided it is a forced-air system.
In cases where there isn't a forced-air system, Apollo has a unique "mini-duct" air conditioning system to cool an entire home. Apollo specializes in this "mini-duct" AC system to help our customers with older homes stay cool in the summer!
What is a S.E.E.R. (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating and what does it mean to me?
S.E.E.R. is the standard measurement of air conditioning efficiency established by the U.S. Department of Energy. Higher S.E.E.R. ratings translate into greater energy efficiency, which means lower summer cooling bills. So the higher the S.E.E.R. rating, the more money you save. If you air conditioner is more than 10 years old, it's probably an 8.0 S.E.E.R. system. The newer systems out today are 12.0-14.0 S.E.E.R. systems. If an estimated annual bill for an 8.0 S.E.E.R. system is $1,000 (for example), it would only be $615 for a 13.0 S.E.E.R. system - a 38% savings! And in 2006, the U.S. government is giving a $300 energy tax credit to homeowners who upgrade to a 15.0 S.E.E.R. air conditioner and heat pumps.
I have trouble getting even amounts of heat/cooling to certain parts of my house. How can I get more even heating/cooling to the upstairs and downstairs of my home?
Every home seems to have at least one room that's always too hot or too cold. The problem is due to standard heating and cooling systems that pump climate controlled air to all your rooms at once. Rooms furthest from your heating and cooling units get less warmed and cooled air. Our solution: Zoning. Zoned heating and cooling systems with automatic dampers and extra thermostats heat and cool specific "zones" without affecting the temperature in the rest of your house.
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