Air Conditioning - A/C is breaking the bank,
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fidelfs
10-05-04, 02:19 PM
Hi,
I live in humid Houston, TX. My 4 years old house is 2100 Sq feet and my AC bill is going to the roof.
Last month I paid over $300.00 in electricity. I think my problem is more insulation than AC but I would like to hear some opinions.
I have a new (one year old) Thermostant (digital). The house is facing east so in the afternoon is getting all the sun from Texas (Hot, Hot, Hot). I have the setting at 75 degrees above that setting my house is an oven. The AC runs almost 100% with no switching from 3 PM until 8 PM so about 6:30 my house is really cold but the Thermostat shows from 76 to 78 degrees.
I installed recently crown molding and I found that the wall area close to the thermostat is really hot to the touch. Could be that I need more insulation at the attic? What should I do/check? Please help this is getting really bad.
In winter time I pay about 60 - 70 Dollars so in Summer I am paying 240 +.
I live in humid Houston, TX. My 4 years old house is 2100 Sq feet and my AC bill is going to the roof.
Last month I paid over $300.00 in electricity. I think my problem is more insulation than AC but I would like to hear some opinions.
I have a new (one year old) Thermostant (digital). The house is facing east so in the afternoon is getting all the sun from Texas (Hot, Hot, Hot). I have the setting at 75 degrees above that setting my house is an oven. The AC runs almost 100% with no switching from 3 PM until 8 PM so about 6:30 my house is really cold but the Thermostat shows from 76 to 78 degrees.
I installed recently crown molding and I found that the wall area close to the thermostat is really hot to the touch. Could be that I need more insulation at the attic? What should I do/check? Please help this is getting really bad.
In winter time I pay about 60 - 70 Dollars so in Summer I am paying 240 +.
slumlordfrank
10-05-04, 04:51 PM
One more reason why we moved out of Houston! A couple of things; you don't mention how old the house is, the only house I had in H-Town that had enough insulation was the one that was built in '91. IIRC it was about R31 or so in the attic.
Here's the things to check and do in the order of priority;
1. Have your system checked to make sure your coils are clean and right-sized and that there's no leaks in the vents and that your air return is the right size. If you don't have a service company you can PM me and I'll give you the name of the guys that did all our work (we had 15-25 rentals the whole time we lived there).
2. Check your attic temp on a hot day, it shouldn't be any more than 5-10 degrees hotter than outside temp, preferable it should be the same. Proper ridge and soffit vents can remedy.
3. Any large, west or south facing windows consider putting the solar reflecting SCREENS on the entire window. NOT THE FILM, THE SCREENS.
4. Don't waste your time on double pane or storm windows, in Houston the payback period is about 25 years and you probably won't live in the house that long.
That should cover it. We usually kept our thermostat between 76-78, we had fans in the living room, bedroom and office. Our last house was about the size of yours, 10 foot ceiling throughout, two TVs, a computer and hot tub on. Even though there were only two of us my wife was at home the last 6 years and I officed at home the last 10 so the AC ran during the day instead of being set up to 82 while we were away at work. I don't think our bill ever got over $150 and we move out of there in May of '03.
Frank
Here's the things to check and do in the order of priority;
1. Have your system checked to make sure your coils are clean and right-sized and that there's no leaks in the vents and that your air return is the right size. If you don't have a service company you can PM me and I'll give you the name of the guys that did all our work (we had 15-25 rentals the whole time we lived there).
2. Check your attic temp on a hot day, it shouldn't be any more than 5-10 degrees hotter than outside temp, preferable it should be the same. Proper ridge and soffit vents can remedy.
3. Any large, west or south facing windows consider putting the solar reflecting SCREENS on the entire window. NOT THE FILM, THE SCREENS.
4. Don't waste your time on double pane or storm windows, in Houston the payback period is about 25 years and you probably won't live in the house that long.
That should cover it. We usually kept our thermostat between 76-78, we had fans in the living room, bedroom and office. Our last house was about the size of yours, 10 foot ceiling throughout, two TVs, a computer and hot tub on. Even though there were only two of us my wife was at home the last 6 years and I officed at home the last 10 so the AC ran during the day instead of being set up to 82 while we were away at work. I don't think our bill ever got over $150 and we move out of there in May of '03.
Frank
Ed Imeduc
10-05-04, 05:28 PM
Just some more add on here. You dont say about the air filter do you put a new one in every 30 to 90 days. When was the last time you have the unit looked at freon ok coil clean. You should get about a 18o to 20o degree drop over the coil.
What insulation do you have in the attic R 38????. Do you have the attic vents in the over hang and up in the gable also. A power roof fan would pay if you had one there.You need about 1 sq ft vent for every 150 sq ft of attic 1/2 in 1/2 out
On that west side the best is if you can get the cheap matchstick like awnings and hang them in front of the windows from the fascia board of the home. Out from the home some.
ED ;)
What insulation do you have in the attic R 38????. Do you have the attic vents in the over hang and up in the gable also. A power roof fan would pay if you had one there.You need about 1 sq ft vent for every 150 sq ft of attic 1/2 in 1/2 out
On that west side the best is if you can get the cheap matchstick like awnings and hang them in front of the windows from the fascia board of the home. Out from the home some.
ED ;)
mattison
10-07-04, 11:57 AM
You say it runs and actually gets the house very cool but the t-stat reads 78º and the wall that it's mounted on is very warm. In my opinion the only things you can do is relocate the t-stat or use trial and error by setting it up until it's shutting off at a comfy temp.
You may even be able to find a t-stat that can be calibrated to compisate for conditions such as this but I'm not positive they have them for residential.
You may even be able to find a t-stat that can be calibrated to compisate for conditions such as this but I'm not positive they have them for residential.