Seasonal Tips to Save You Money On Your Utility Bill

Released on: December 27, 2007, 8:03 am

Press Release Author: Jamie Gerdsen

Industry: Consumer Services

Press Release Summary: 1. My thermostat is equipped with a two-position setting for
the fan, "automatic" and "on". Where should I set it?
2. I see the arrow on my furnace filter, but I'm not sure how to correctly position
it. What should I do?
3. How does an air conditioning system actually work to cool the air in my home?
4. What is a S.E.E.R. (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating and what does it
mean to me?
5. I have trouble getting even amounts of heat/cooling to certain parts of my house.
How can I get more even heating/cooling to the upstairs and downstairs of my home?


Press Release Body: My thermostat is equipped with a two-position setting for the
fan, "automatic" and "on". Where should I set it?

The normal setting is on "automatic" with the fan's cycle being controlled by the
temperature in the room. However, if your home is equipped with an air cleaner
(media or electronic) or you wish to keep a continuous flow of air, switch the
setting to "on". Remember, central air cleaning devices only work when the furnace
is circulating air. If you wish to get the most from your air cleaner, you should
keep your thermostat setting to "on".

I see the arrow on my furnace filter, but I'm not sure how to correctly position it.
What should I do?

The arrow should point in the same direction as the flow of air. In most cases, it
will point towards the furnace and should fit between the return air part of the
system and the furnace. The filter screens out the dust and other impurities before
the air is warmed in your furnace and distributed through the duct system.

How does an air conditioning system actually work to cool the air in my home?

An air conditioning system consists of two parts: an outdoor unit (where liquid
refrigerant is contained) and an indoor coil (where the refrigeration is pumped
into). As the air moves across the air conditioning coil (usually located on top of
the furnace), the refrigerant removes the heat from the air as well as the moisture
by condensing it on the cold surface of the coil. In this way, the air conditioner
not only cools but also dehumidifies the air. Virtually any system can have air
conditioning hooked up to it provided it is a forced-air system.

In cases where there isn't a forced-air system, Apollo has a unique "mini-duct" air
conditioning system to cool an entire home. Apollo specializes in this "mini-duct"
AC system to help our customers with older homes stay cool in the summer!

What is a S.E.E.R. (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating and what does it mean
to me?

S.E.E.R. is the standard measurement of air conditioning efficiency established by
the U.S. Department of Energy. Higher S.E.E.R. ratings translate into greater energy
efficiency, which means lower summer cooling bills. So the higher the S.E.E.R.
rating, the more money you save. If you air conditioner is more than 10 years old,
it's probably an 8.0 S.E.E.R. system. The newer systems out today are 12.0-14.0
S.E.E.R. systems. If an estimated annual bill for an 8.0 S.E.E.R. system is $1,000
(for example), it would only be $615 for a 13.0 S.E.E.R. system - a 38% savings! And
in 2006, the U.S. government is giving a $300 energy tax credit to homeowners who
upgrade to a 15.0 S.E.E.R. air conditioner and heat pumps.

I have trouble getting even amounts of heat/cooling to certain parts of my house.
How can I get more even heating/cooling to the upstairs and downstairs of my home?

Every home seems to have at least one room that's always too hot or too cold. The
problem is due to standard heating and cooling systems that pump climate controlled
air to all your rooms at once. Rooms furthest from your heating and cooling units
get less warmed and cooled air. Our solution: Zoning. Zoned heating and cooling
systems with automatic dampers and extra thermostats heat and cool specific "zones"
without affecting the temperature in the rest of your house.

Web Site: http://apollo-hvac.com

Contact Details: Apollo-HVAC
Attn: Sue Schoenling
1730 Tennessee Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
(513) 242-5522
Email: sschoenling_101@fuse.net

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