HVAC Energy Conservation

Carmen Said:

I came across this site last night, after searching the web for answers. We just installed a TRANE 16Seer on our 2100 sf home. Compared to last year, at this time, my bill has doubled. Last year during summer (with 2 MasterCools installed, one running 24 hours, the other about 10 hours), my bill was under $200. This year, with our new HVAC, in addition to new windows all around the house, my bill was over $300.
What am I doing wrong? - Carmen
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Hi Carmen,

I am new to blogs & blogging. My web site is my main stay.

I do not have enough information to do any kind of analysis, however, it could be a poor install & setup of the equipment, refrigerant lines & the ductwork system.

Your unit is costing you a fortune, the first thing to look for is hot air getting into the Return Air duct system, that would overload the evaporator & condenser & run your costs way up. What is the F-Temperature rise/split from the outdoor condenser above the outdoor temperature. it appears that you live in a dry climate.

So, your unit is costing you a fortune, I need to have the temperatures below, - that you can easily take for me:

“Copy only the data portions & paste in your Word-Processor, make a couple hard-copies, then send me what you take, & get as much of this data as your Tech will provide for you.” You can delete the (You &/or Tech) before you make hard copies for your Tech.

This is very important: Always tell the tech that you want all the data he takes, clearly recorded with your billing!

I can run the temperatures data you take with an accurate CFM Airflow & ball-park the Nominal BTUH your new A/C is delivering, at those conditions.

TROUBLE SHOOTING DATA - (You or Your) HVAC Tech

For my information concerning summer design & your climate, provide your state & nearest large city __________
TONNAGE of Unit or outdoor condenser model number: ___________ You
TXV or orifice metering device? _______You or Tech, - not real critical to this analysis

Outdoor condenser’s discharge-air-temperature _____You
Out-Door temperature: ____You
Condenser air Temp  split _____You

Indoor Total-ESP - External Static Pressure  _______Tech
All Supply Air velocities in FPM: ___Tech
I’ll do the math for the total CFM:

Suction line pressure ___Tech
Suction-Vapor line temperature: ___Tech
Saturated Suction Temp – Gage - Suction Saturated Temperature. ___Tech
Superheat ______Tech

Head pressure _______Tech
SCT – Gage - Saturated Condensing Temp _______Tech
Small Liquid line - temperature: _______You
Subcooling: _______
Return Air temp DB &, WB or %RH: _______You
Supply Air temp DB &, WB or %RH: _______You

With the information data below and an accurate CFM airflow + sea-level height, I can ball-park its BTUH output
Return Air temp DB &, WB or %RH: ____ ____You
Supply Air temp DB &, WB or %RH: ____ ____You
Take a cotton cloth & wet with room temperature water, wrap it around the thermometer & use it for the wet bulb temps above.

Except for the Pressures, Superheat & subcooling you can take most of the other Temp readings for me.

My advice: to every user, get a low cost humidity gage at a local hardware store & see what the percentage-RH is in your home, I can cross-reference that to the wet bulb depression so you could use the humidity gage instead of wet or use both.

If you want to save money you will take the time when it is hot & warm in the house to take all this temperature data!

Please Respond, ASAP.

Anyone is welcome to use the Data Collection for use as they see fit!

“Copy only the data portions & paste in your Word-Processor, make a couple hard-copies, then send me what you take, & get as much of this data as your Tech will provide for you.”

My monthly electric bills run $50.00 or less, & I keep very cool, in a 1937 farm home, even in 104-F Heat Index!

Are your electric bills too high?

Visit my many HVAC web pages at:

http://www.udarrell.com/airconditioning-sizing.html

For Techs a Trouble Shooting chart, for HVAC Techs & HVAC User’s a Service Data Chart to check BTUH Performance:

http://www.udarrell.com/ac-trouble-shooting-chart.html

I am here to help you Conserve Energy & save a lot on your monthly utility bills.

A high percentage of HVAC systems are operating way under their Rated Efficiency!

Visit the HVAC links at the bottom of the pages.

Edit: 08/03/08, Carmen, your initial post is in the unnoticeable uncategorized comment section!

udarrell - Darrell, Retired HVAC Tech & Contractor from mid 1970’s

This entry was posted on Friday, August 1st, 2008 at 4:57 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.