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Post by Jolly on Aug 23, 2023 11:27:06 GMT
I don't have a clue, but it's a different idea...
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Post by Ozarks Tom on Aug 23, 2023 14:20:28 GMT
Neat gimmick, but for what it does as far as additional cooling I don't know it's worth it. Especially since he didn't mention what that calcium filter costs to replace. Might negate any electrical savings you were hoping for.
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Post by joebill on Sept 12, 2023 18:13:46 GMT
Effectiveness is severely limited by ambient humidity. It cools the condenser coils by evaporation, if at all, and that is limited by the percentage of water already in the air....Joe
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Post by woolybear on Sept 12, 2023 19:53:12 GMT
I'm curious...DD's AC/heatpump is on the west side of her house. Catches the worst of the summer sun and heat builds immensely on that side. Her electric bill was around $200 or more/month. Would installing a shade cloth over the AC be of any benefit? My AC is located on the north side of my house and maybe less than half of the unit catches the sun so it runs less and my bill is less. Plus the trees around the house help with blocking some of the sun.
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Post by joebill on Sept 12, 2023 21:07:32 GMT
No experience with heat pumps, but shading an AC unit in the summer times usually helps. On the other hand, when winter rolls around the extra heat might be an advantage. I would look for a forum that deals with heat pumps and ask the question there.....Joe
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Post by sawmilljim on Sept 12, 2023 22:53:36 GMT
Actually yes water being sprayed on the outside coil can help lower the head pressure on the unit. As to how much electricity it saves would be in my opinion not worth the effort. Especially if you have to pay for the water or even the electric to pump the water. That said should the fan on the outside unit die if you can spray enough water on it you can do this till you can replace the fan motor. In another life I worked for a AC Co. We have ran commercial freezer units that way.
As to a heat pump if you are referring to the one that uses electric for the AC mode and uses a reverse valve for the heat mode. shade does the same thing by lowering the head pressure on the unit. One can measure amp draw on the compressor to know exactly the difference in full sun or shade. Running time on the unit is dependent on how fast your house looses the heat or cool the unit produces. Attic insulation is of high importance. I think my old house has R38 in the attic.
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Post by woolybear on Sept 13, 2023 13:34:05 GMT
DSiL says they have plans to put more insulation in the attic area this fall. The full length of the house faces west, with a deck and sliding glass doors (big heat suckers in the summer and losers in the winter). If it were me I would think about installing retractable awnings on the west side to help provide shade and block some of the sun and heat from beating down on that side.
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Post by sawmilljim on Sept 13, 2023 19:29:56 GMT
Some places if you buy the insolation they will let you use the machine to blow it in with for free. Takes two people one on the hose and one to feed the beast.
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