The hotter things are, the longer your A/C will run, and the more energy it uses. Furthermore, the air inside your home tends to heat up much faster than the air outside. This can lead to significant amounts spent on energy bills. However, with a little ingenuity, you can use it to lower your energy usage instead. Just get an HVAC economizer.
How Economizers Work
HVAC economizers are largely used for businesses, but they can be great for homes as well. Sensors will measure the outdoor temperature and humidity, while a logic controller monitors the overall weather conditions in your area.
If the conditions are right and the temperature and humidity are both lower than the levels set on your thermostat, then the economizer will pull air from outside into your HVAC system. The system then pumps that outdoor air directly into your home. The A/C isn’t running at this time, since the air is already cool enough.
Then, if the outdoor air gets too hot, or too humid, the damper on the economizer closes again, and your A/C resumes its work as usual. Using an HVAC economizer in this way can reduce mechanical cooling by up to 75 percent.
Types of Economizers
Many newer A/C models come with HVAC economizers already installed. If you have an older A/C, though, you can get an economizer retrofitted. There are several kinds to choose from.
First is a dry bulb economizer. It only measures temperature, and not humidity. Dry bulbs are cheaper, but you may inadvertently raise your home’s humidity. The temperature is technically lower, but the “feels like” temperature is still too warm.
Wet bulb economizers measure both heat and humidity of the outdoor air, providing a more accurate and effective weather assessment. Finally, a differential enthalpy economizer not only measures the air outside, but compares it to the return air, to see if there’s enough difference to cool your home effectively.
To see which HVAC economizer is right for you, contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We provide top quality home comfort solutions to Lorain, Elyria, and Oberlin.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area