Well how do you keep the cool air flowing well not spending a fortune? Well it all starts with SEER. The efficiency of a air conditioning system is measured by it’s SEER rating “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio”. This rating is set by Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute.The higher the SEER rating the more efficient the air conditioning system.

A SEER rating is the Btu rating cooling output during a typical cooling season divided by the total electric energy input in watt hours during the same period.

For example, consider a 5000 BTU/h air-conditioning unit, with a SEER of 10, operating for a total of 1000 hours during an annual cooling season (e.g., 8 hours per day for 125 days).

The annual total cooling output would be:

5000 BTU/h * 8 h/day * 125 days = 5,000,000 BTU

With a SEER of 10, the annual electrical energy usage would be about:

5,000,000 BTU / 10 BTU/W·h = 500,000 W·h

The average power usage may also be calculated more simply by:

Average power = (BTU/h) / (SEER, BTU/W·h) = 5000 / 10 = 500 W

If your electricity cost is 20¢/kW·h, then your operating cost is:

0.5 kW * 20¢/kW·h = 10¢/h

Hope this helps clear up SEER ratings for everyone interested. So now that you know you can stay cool for less money with some informed shopping before installing your air conditioning system.

A-1 Ductworks is a Furnace and Duct Cleaning Company that specializes in Indoor Air Quality for the Fort McMurray Alberta Area. Contact us at 780-598-5966 for free estimates on Indoor Air Quality products and services

Air Conditioning System

Your air conditioning system is made up of two parts, first the condenser unit which sits outside the home on a concrete block outside the house and the evaporator coils which sits above your furnace in the plenum of the ductwork. When the air conditioning system is in action warm or hot air is drawn from the return air grills in the home into the furnace through the blower and the heat is absorbed into the refrigerant gases in the A/C system the gases expand and are pumped out in pressured lines to the condenser unit outside where a large fan extracts the heat and compresses the gases to nearly a liquid and very cold state, the manipulated refrigerant gases are then sent back to the evaporator coils above the furnace and cold air is pushed into the supply side of the furnace system. The warm air from the return side of the furnace system is again absorbed by the refrigerant gases and the process starts over again.

Before Starting your air conditioning system up for the season there are a few things that you should do for preventative maintenance.

Condenser Unit, The part of the A/C system that sits outside the home: First before turning on your air conditioning system make sure that the condenser unit is not covered in leaves, sticks, lawn furniture or toys. Next using a pressurized air system or a shop vac turned on the blow feature clean the coils from the inside out removing any leaves that may hve gotten lodged in the coils. Straighten any of the fins that have gotten bent over. Your goal here is to give the condenser as much help as possible in removing hot air air from the coils when the air passes over them.

Furnace Filters: The furnace system is the lungs of the home and when your A/C is running the blower for the furnace system is what provides the suction power when pulling the warm air from the return side of the furnace and the blowing power to the supply side of the furnace after the air has been cooled. Keeping your furnace filter clean is a very important and necessary step for the proper operation of a air conditioning system. A clean furnace filter will increase the efficiency of the A/C system and keep the evaporator coils from freezing up by allowing the furnace blower to provide enough air flow. So make sure to replace your disposable filters or clean your electrostatic filters every other month during both cooling and heating seasons.

Drain Line: The a-framed evaporator coil sits above the furnace in a shallow pan where a drain line is attached for water run off. This line can become clogged up over time with molds and calcium deposits and should be removed and cleaned to allow for proper drainage. If it is plugged up try using a wire and force the clog out and run a hot water and bleach mixture through the line to remove any molds that have built up. A clogged drain line can lead to the evaporator pan overflowing onto your furnace causing rusting of the furnace system.

Blower Fan: The air conditioning system gets it’s air moving power from a “squirrel cage” fan. Even with good filters that are cleaned or replaced frequently these fans become clogged with hair dust and fats that build up on the fans surface. With out a good fan that is capable of moving enough air the A/C system becomes a useless dead weight in your basement.

Evaporator Coil: This portion of the cleaning should be left to a professional with the right equipment and knowledge as to not harm your A/C system. The evaporator coil gets filled with dust over time and slows the air flow, slowed air flow leads to the evaporator not being able to get rid of the cold fast enough and the coil will turn to a block of ice and will need to melt before operation of the system is OK again.

Take care of your Air Conditioning System and it will keep you smiling in its cool embrace for many hot Summers to come.

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