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Robert Freeman
Robert Freeman is president and co-owner of Fenix Heating and Cooling. Robert, along with other principals, stared Fenix Heating Cooling in 1988, and is now one of the top 130 Lenox dealers in the U.S. Fenix specializes in residential and commercial installation for both remodel and new construction. Robert can be contacted at Fenix Heating & Cooling, 802 W. 2nd, Wichita KS 67203, by phone at (316) 945-4842, or by fax at (316) 265-4768.
Heating & Air Conditioning
2001-07-01 09:02:00
Controlling energy costs
Robert Freeman Question:  My husband and I are constantly battling over the thermostat.  I get cold, he gets hot.  How do ‘sane’ people solve this problem where both are satisfied?  Answer:  It’s called ‘both giving in a bit’.  Set the thermostat between 75 and 78 degrees.  Your air conditioner will work more efficiently when it is set and left alone.Question:  What temperature do I set my thermostat when I leave town for a couple of days (or longer)?  Or should I just turn off the entire system?Answer:  Generally, 80 degrees is recommended.  It is not a good idea to turn off your entire system.  With the system off, the temperature in the home will rise significantly, and if you are gone for longer than you planned, this could be dangerous.  The inside walls and furniture will absorb heat and the house plants will die.  Even if you return in a couple of days, the cost of the  energy it takes to bring the temperature to the preferred level will be greater than if you had set the thermostat to 80 degrees initially.Question:  During the day, is it more cost effective to open the windows when it is cool outside and turn off the air conditioner, then shut the windows and turn on the air conditioner during the hotter part of the day?Answer:  No.  By opening your windows you allow heat and humidity into the home, not to mention the dirt, dust and pollen.  When you cool the home your system will have to work all the harder to remove that heat and humidity.  Set your thermostat and leave it.  It is much more efficient.Question:  Now that I am not using my furnace, do I still need to change my furnace filter?Answer:  Yes.  Studies show that by regularly changing the furnace filter (once a month) can reduce energy consumption by an average of 12%.  If you have a media filter, you will want to change it once every 6 months.  If there is a smoker in the home, the media air filter and electronic air cleaner cells need to be changed and cleaned more often.Question:  I see my neighbor cleaning his outside air conditioning unit from time to time.  Is this necessary?Answer:  You should clean the outside unit three to four times during the cooling season.  PLEASE NOTE... to clean the outside unit yourself, turn the thermostat to the OFF position.  Disconnect the power to the unit.  You may have an electrical disconnect outside.  Either turn the breaker to the off position or pull the fuse in the outside electrical disconnect.  If you do not have an outside electrical disconnect, go the breaker box inside the home and turn the air conditioner breaker off.  FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN A FATAL ELECTRICAL SHOCK.  Rinse the coils with a high pressure nozzle attached to the garden hose.  Reconnect the unit to power after rinsing the coils.  If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, please call a professional.  Regular cleaning of the outside unit will assure you of the maximum amount of BTU cooling from your unit.Question:  I turned on my air conditioner and nothing happened.  What should I do?Answer:  Make sure your thermostat is set to cooling and the temperature is set at least 5 degrees below the temperature of the room in which the thermostat is located.  Check the air conditioner breaker or fuse box to be sure the unit is receiving power.  If your unit still does not work, call a professional.Question:  It seems as though the size of the air ducts would have something to do with controlling utility costs.  Are there guidelines for how big the ducts should be for air conditioning?Answer:  Most generally, the sizes of the air ducts and supply ducts will have little to do with the energy necessary to run a system efficiently.  A rule of thumb says ducts should carry 400 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air for every one ton of cooling.  So if you have a two ton system, you need ductwork that will carry 800 CFM.  One 6-inch round duct is good for about 120 CFM, a 7-inch duct carries about 150 CFM, an 8-inch duct carries about 200 CFM of cool air.  Also, you want to make sure that the return ducts are the same size as the supply ducts.  In adjusting your system,try not to damper down the system any more than needed because reduced airflow could cause the indoor coil to freeze.Question:  We’re looking at a new heating and air conditioning system.  Which one is the best?Answer:  Brands are important, and most of the well known brands are all good, but the installing contractor plays a more important role.  You might have the best equipment but if poorly installed, it will not work as well as it should and it will be less efficient.  Check the contractor.  Get references.  The second part of the equation is proper sizing of the equipment.  Ask to see the contractor’s heat loss and heat gain calculations for your home before you buy anything.  Let him explain why he is recommending the sizes he is recommending.
 
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