Cooling (and heating) your home is one of the most costly portions of your energy bill. The Family Handyman has a tip for ensuring your air conditioner works as efficiently as possible. If your air conditioner isn't cooling the house quickly enough, it may need repair. Here's how to test it: To determine whether your air conditioner needs a tune-up, perform this easy test when your AC unit has been running for at least 15 minutes and the outdoor temp is above 80 degrees F. With a clean air filter in place, set a thermometer on the supply register that's closest to the inside cooling equipment. Keep it there for five minutes and note the temperature. Do the same thing at the return vent. The air coming out should be 14 to 20 degrees cooler than the air going in. 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.If you aren't sure whether your air conditioner is operating at full efficiency, give this test a try to find out.

Hit the link for more tips on saving energy in the summer.How to Save Energy and Cut Cooling Costs | You don't have permission to access /travel_guide/32358/home_improvement/how_to_test_your_central_air_conditioning_system.htmlBUILD YOUR OWN ACCA Quality Installation (QI) Kit (ACCA Standard 5) UEi HA1 Hermetic Compressor AnalyzerBefore you start tinkering with the system, it's important to understand the basics of how it works. Central air consists of three main parts: the condenser, the blower unit, and the ductwork.The condenser is the large outdoor unit that is probably tucked behind your garage. Its role is to manage the temperature of the refrigerant, usually Freon, which travels back and forth from the house. The condenser does this by pressurizing the Freon gas as it arrives, turning it into a high-temperature liquid. The Freon in its new state then travels back to the house and to the blower unit.Once it enters the blower unit, the Freon is changed into a gas and becomes dramatically colder.

This cold gas then gets piped through a coil located in the ductwork. Air blows through the coil, which is how it cools down before it continues into the house. The blower unit is constantly pulling air from the house through return ducts, forcing it through the cooling coil and then back to the house through supply ducts. Once the Freon has done its job, it travels to the condenser, where it is pressurized back into a liquid, and the cycle starts again.You should leave some of the more delicate parts of the system, such as the refrigerant lines, to the professionals. But there are easy things you can do to maintain the system, particularly before summer heats up.These are located at the blower unit and are usually placed where the return duct meets the unit. You should check your filters once a month. A badly clogged filter slows down the airflow through the blower unit, allowing the cooling coil to ice up. This could cause your unit to shut down.There are many grades of filters available.

If you use the kind that reduces allergens, know that they're going to clog up faster, so they should be checked more often.When warm air passes through the cooling coil, condensation occurs. Air-conditioning systems have a variety of ways of dealing with this. Depending on where your blower unit is located, this moisture may go into a gravity-fed drain, or it may go into a pan under the blower unit. If it's in a basement, the pan may have a small pump to move the water to a drain. lg ac repair customer careIf the unit is in an attic, the water may just enter the pan and evaporate.ac-dc power supplies externalIf you have a pump, test it to make sure it's functioning properly. ac unit for a tentIt likely has a float attached to it that engages the unit;

move the float up and down to see if it works. If you don't have a pump and there is no drain in the pan, check to see if there is a kill switch. This is a wired water sensor set to a certain height in the pan. If water touches it, the system shuts down. If your unit is located in the attic, pay particular attention to testing the kill switch— you don't want the pan to overflow and have water dripping on your ceiling.For the exterior condenser to work properly, it needs a nice, unobstructed flow of air around it. Make sure that there is at least 2 feet of clear space around the unit, free of shrubs, wood piles, and low hanging branches.The condenser's fan spent all of last summer sucking air, leaves, debris, and pollen into it. So give the unit a spring cleaning. For this it's best to wash it with a garden hose. If things look really gummed up you could use a chemical cleaner. But those are harsh and usually unnecessary.There are two areas here worth checking. The first is the registers in your house.

Make sure that there are no rugs or furniture obstructing the airflow. Then open them up and see if anything has gotten into the ductwork that could cause problems. If you have toddlers around, it's anyone's guess what's in there.If you find mold growing in your ducts, it's worthwhile to contact a duct-cleaning company. For a little cash, they can do a thorough cleaning of your entire system.The second place to check is the ductwork that travels through your attic or basement. All of the connections and seams should be sealed, with no holes or corrosion. To cover any holes and seal the joints, use silver aluminum-foil tape, as opposed to the traditional duct tape.If you have an attic system, pay close attention to the insulation on the supply duct—the one that brings the cool air back to your house. With no insulation, that cold metal will start to sweat in your hot attic and the condensation will drip onto your ceilings. Ships from and sold by 1 Stop Camera & Appliances. AC Safe AC-080 Universal Light-Duty Air Conditioner Support Bracket, Upto 80 Pounds FREE Shipping on orders over $49.

Buy "Frigidaire FFRA0511R1 5, 000 BTU 115V Window-Mount...” from Amazon Warehouse Deals and save 22% off the $149.99 list price. The Frigidaire 5,000 BTU 115V Window-Mounted Mini-Compact Air Conditioner dehumidifies up to 1.1 pints per hour and quickly cools a room up to 150 square feet. It also features two cool speeds and two fan speeds. The filter is antibacterial mesh with side, slide-out access. It cleans the air removing harmful bacteria while you enjoy cool comfort. And with quiet operation, this unit keeps you cool without keeping you awake. Mechanical rotary controls allow you to manage the cooling and fan speeds. The top, full-width, two-way air direction control allows you to direct the air where you want it. Pleated quick-mount window mounting kit with side panels extend allow the AC to appropriately fit your window. Accommodates windows with a minimum height of 13 inches and width of 23 inches to 36 inches. The extra-long, 6.5-feet, three-prong power cord makes extension cords unnecessary, The unit requires a standard 115V electrical outlet.

Frigidaire's FFRA0511R1 5,000 BTU 115V Window-Mounted Mini-Compact Air Conditioner is perfect for cooling a room up to 150 square feet. The washable mesh filter with side, slide-out access reduces bacteria, room odors and other airborne particles for a healthier, more comfortable environment. Low power start-up conserves energy and saves you money plus, effortless restart automatically resumes operating at its previous settings when power is restored. 15 x 16 x 12 inches 48 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) #6,269 in Home and Kitchen (See Top 100 in Home and Kitchen) #3 in Home & Kitchen > Heating, Cooling & Air Quality > Air Conditioners & Accessories > Air Conditioners > Window See all 1,143 customer reviews See all 1,143 customer reviews (newest first) works well was easy to installIt keeps the room cool during hot summer days. I purchased this product for my son's birthday and he really likes this Frigidaire air conditioner. It was easy to install in a smaller window.