HELPFUL HINTS AND ENERGY SAVING TIPS FOR COOLING

ATTIC VENTILATION
Since the purpose of cooling is to remove heat from inside of the house, the first step should be to keep as much heat as possible from entering the house.  Heat enters the house through walls heated by outdoor air and sun.  It comes in through the ceiling from the roof or attic above. 

When the temperature outside is 90 degrees, it is very possible for attic temperature to reach 130 degrees if it is not properly ventilated.  An attic fan should be used to help in the discharge of hot air from the attic.

SHADE AIDS COOLING
Glass areas exposed to the sun are responsible for a very substantial amount of the heat that enters a house.  The sun not only heats the glass, but also all the surfaces indoors that it shines upon.  The most effective way of eliminating this heat is to keep the sun out.  By keeping your blinds or drapes closed during daylight hours will help the efficiency of your cooling system.

COOKING
Families living in air conditioned houses have better appetites than those in homes which are not air conditioned.  Also, cooking releases a large amount of heat and moisture.  A kitchen range with all burners operating can release more heat into the house than a two or three ton cooling unit can remove if it did nothing else.  A kitchen ventilating fan should always be running while cooking.  A kitchen window should be slightly open to replace the air that the fan moves out.

DRYING CLOTHES
Laundry, including baby clothes and lingerie, should never be dried indoors when cooling.  The water released from the clothes enters the air and then must be removed by the cooling equipment.

Never permit an automatic clothes dryer to discharge its heat and moisture inside an air conditioned house.  It will place a load upon the cooling unit that may cause discomfort for hours.  Many complaints of unsatisfactory cooling have been traced to this one cause.  Dryers must be vented to the outdoors (especially gas dryers).  When venting to the outdoors, never vent close to the condensing unit as you will plug-up the coil with lint.

MOPPING & CLEANING
Mopping floors, washing furniture and other cleaning operations requiring water will release moisture into the air as the surfaces dry.  These operations should be done on a cool day, or at least during the coolest part of a warm day when the full cooling capacity of the equipment is not required.

IRONING CLOTHES
Ironing should be done on a cool day or late in the evening when the cooling system has the reserve capacity to remove the added heat without noticeable difficulty.

BATH & SHOWERS
Tub and shower baths release heat and moisture (steam) into the air.  The shower bath releases more than the tub bath and, of course, the longer the shower the more the released heat and moisture.  A bath room ventilating fan in operation, while the baths are being used, will help remove the extra heat and moisture.

ENTERTAINING
Your air conditioning system was sized and designed to keep you and your family comfortable.  Your system will probably not provide comfortable cooling for additional 15 to 20 people on a hot day.  Lowering the temperature setting will not help, unless it is done 6 to 8 hours before the additional people arrive.

DOORS & WINDOWS
Windows should remain closed throughout the cooling season.  To open them lets in warm and often highly humid air, particularly at night.  Do not open doors more often than necessary and then for as short a period as possible.  It usually costs more to cool a house with children that are running in and out at frequent intervals because each time the door is opened warm air comes in.

AIR CIRCULATION