| If you could put more money in your
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| | Clean Condenser Coils and Fins
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| pocket, this summer, would you? Well, you
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| | Condenser coils and fins (outside) are
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| can, by lowering your cooling bill.
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| | also vulnerable to dirt - from debris and
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| Chances are, it's higher than it needs to
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| | leaves falling from trees, cut grass
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| be. You'll be surprised at what you can
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| | kicked up by the lawnmower, and lint from
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| save. No sacrifice required. Check out
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| | a nearby dryer vent - so, check the
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| these quick and easy maintenance tips
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| | condenser unit at the beginning of the
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| that can put you on your way to lower
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| | cooling season. Cut the power to the unit
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| bills in no time.
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| | and use the following checklist:
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| Quick Facts About Your Central AC
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| | * Gently remove any debris from top and
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| Your central air conditioning (AC) system
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| | sides.
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| circulates cool air through your house
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| | * Sweep the concrete pad.
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| through supply and return ducts (often
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| | * Prune back any overhanging leaves (2
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| the same ducts used for heat in the
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| | feet is the minimum recommended
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| winter). A typical central AC system has
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| | clearance; 5 feet overhead).
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| an evaporator, condenser and compressor
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| | * Use a soft brush to sweep the fins.
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| in a single cabinet located outside the
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| | * (Optional) Spray the fins with a gentle
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| house (usually on a concrete slab right
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| | household cleaner; let it sit for 5
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| next to it), or alternately, a condenser
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| | minutes, then gently hose them down
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| and compressor outside and an evaporator
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| | pointing the spray into the interior
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| in a separate cabinet, inside (usually in
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| | through the fan opening.
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| the basement or crawl space). Both
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| | * Keep the unit free of dirt and debris
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| systems have a blower that forces indoor
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| | throughout the season.
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| air through the coil of the evaporator
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| | * If you can shade your unit (without
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| where it's cooled, dehumidified, and sent
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| | blocking airflow), even better: the
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| through the ductwork into the house. The
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| | shaded air around your system will be
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| heat collected by the evaporator is
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| | cooler, and a properly shaded system can
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| transferred to the condenser (outside) to
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| | operate up to 10 percent more efficiently
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| dissipate.
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| | over the course of the season.
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| Change the Air Filter
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| | Keeping your evaporator and condenser
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| This is the most important thing you can
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| | coils free of dirt and debris can improve
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| do to help keep your system working at
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| | your system's performance by as much as
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| peak efficiency. The air moving across
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| | 10 percent. Just be careful with those
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| the evaporator is cleaned before it gets
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| | fins. They're a little fragile and easily
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| there by a filter located in the return
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| | bent. It's best to use a special tool
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| air duct (usually within easy reach in a
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| | called a fin comb to straighten them.
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| wall or ceiling, or at the air
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| | Those are available through your local
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| conditioner itself). Filters get dirty
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| | home center or online. Be sure to buy the
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| and clogged through regular use; the
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| | correct comb for the number of fins per
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| dirtier they get, the less air gets
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| | inch your unit has.
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| through the system. The dirty air that
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| | Other Simple Steps to Savings
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| gets through is carried right to the
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| | * Anything that obstructs the flow of air
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| evaporator. Dirt sticking to the
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| | through your system reduces its
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| evaporator coil further impedes air flow,
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| | efficiency and drives up your bill --
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| reduces the evaporator's ability to
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| | keep your registers clear of furniture,
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| absorb heat and can reduce your system's
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| | drapes and other obstructions.
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| efficiency by as much as 10 percent. Not
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| | * Keep all exterior doors and windows
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| to mention, that dirty air is circulated
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| | closed when operating the system.
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| right back through your house.
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| | * Raise your temperature setting. Raising
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| Air filters are made by a number of
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| | the setting even 1 degree can lower your
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| manufacturers and come in a variety of
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| | bill by as much as 9 percent over the
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| types and efficiencies.
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| | course of the season.
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| * Most residential systems use 1-inch or
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| | * Keep your system set on "AUTO" and let
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| 2-inch flat or pleated fiberglass
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| | your thermostat do its job. If you find
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| "throwaway" filters (thicker filters may
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| | you need to run the fan constantly to
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| hold more dust but are not necessarily
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| | keep cool, it's time to call a
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| more efficient).
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| | technician.
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| * There are also "permanent" type
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| | * Set your system to recirculate the
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| filters: mesh, electrostatic and
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| | indoor air (if you have the option)
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| electronic, some with pre-filters that
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| | rather than drawing outside air.
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| collect larger dust particles.
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| | Conditioning the warmer outside air takes
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| * If you or a family member suffers with
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| | far more energy than simply recirculating
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| allergies or sensitivity to dust or other
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| | the already conditioned household air.
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| particulates (i.e., tobacco smoke, pollen
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| | * A little money spent could equal a lot
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| or pet dander), consider using a High
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| | of money saved: have a qualified service
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| Efficiency Particulate Air Filter, also
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| | technician check your system at least
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| known as a HEPA filter. These are
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| | once a year. The technician will measure
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| specially constructed filters that allow
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| | your refrigerant to see if it needs
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| a high volume of air to pass through them
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| | recharging, inspect your coils, measure
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| while stopping even very tiny particles.
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| | air flow over the cooling coil, and will
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| * If you have any question about the
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| | do a thorough inspection of the motor,
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| right filter for your system, don't
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| | compressor, air handler, and ducts (and
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| guess; check with a professional service
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| | of course, the air filter). The
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| technician.
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| | technician can spot potentially costly
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| Whatever type of air filter you use,
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| | problems early or help you avoid them
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| inspect it and either clean it or replace
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| | entirely.
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| it about once a month during peak cooling
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| | For Owners of Older Houses
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| season or more often if you're living in
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| | If you're still using a central air
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| dusty conditions or with pets. Never run
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| | conditioning system manufactured during
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| your system without the filter in place.
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| | the 1970s, you're likely using 30-50
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| Clean Evaporator Coils and Fins
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| | percent more energy than a more recently
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| Even if you regularly change your air
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| | manufactured unit would use. Even if your
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| filter, dirt will still accumulate on the
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| | unit is only ten years old, replacing it
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| evaporator over time. Check your
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| | with a new, more efficient unit can save
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| evaporator coils at least once a year and
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| | you 20-40 percent in cooling costs. Over
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| clean them if necessary, using a vacuum
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| | the life of the unit, that's considerable
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| cleaner with brush attachment, careful
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| | savings, especially with energy costs
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| not to bend the fins.
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| | continuing to rise.
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