25 cheap ways to keep your house cooler, Part 5
June 16th, 2006 | by mbhunter |I hope that you’ve enjoyed this series! This article on MSN.com, 25 cheap ways to keep your house cooler, will help to beat the heat this summer on a budget!
Today we conclude this five-part series by planning ahead! (The descriptions from the article are bolded; my unbolded comments follow.)
- A 10-year-old air conditioner, for example, is only half as efficient as a new one. A quick check of your air conditioner’s efficiency can help you decide whether to call in a service professional. Use a household thermometer to measure the temperature of the discharge air from the register and the temperature of the return air at the return-air grill. (Keep the thermometer in place for five minutes to get a steady temperature.) The difference should be from 14 to 20 degrees, experts say. An air conditioner that’s not cooling to those levels could be low on refrigerant or have leaks. A unit cooling more than 20 degrees could have a severe blockage. Whether it’s cooling not enough or cooling too much, the unit is working harder than it has to. A leak means that the compressor is running longer, just as a blockage means that the compressor needs to work harder. Regarding use of a more efficient unit, there are a couple of ways to look at it. First, you can look at with regard to payback: Is the cost difference worth the money saved on the energy used to run it? Or, you can get the more efficient model on principle, meaning that it’s good for the environment to use less energy.
- Using light shingles on a new roof can cut the amount of heat the house absorbs. Repainting in a light color, especially south- and west-facing exterior areas, helps as well. Again, the more light that’s reflected the less that’s transmitted or absorbed, so light colors absorb less and heat up less.
- Upgraded insulation in the attic and double-paned windows all around, complete with tinting to reflect sunlight, are good ideas, too. These are also good for keeping heat in during the winter months.
That’s it! For more energy-saving tips for the summer months and other times, check here!
