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PAGE 8, WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 1983, WHITBY FREE PRESS,;HOME IMPROVEMENT SECTION MIKE'S CUSTOM FENCING Chain Link, Wood & Steel Privacy Fence. CALL: 571-m3850 o,579-2054 Consumer Guidelines for Saving Money and Energy t Not so long ago, people didn't give their home ap- pliances much thought. They simply plugged them in and let them do their work. However, in today's energy-conscious world, people are becoming aware that appliances ... all appliances ... consume not just kilowatts, but also ever-increasing portions of their income. As a result, cost-con- scious consumers are be- ginning to take a hard look at appliances such as their home comfort systems and asking themselves some pointed questions: • Is my system wasting costly energy? • Is there something I can do to improve its effi- ciency? • Are some air-condi- tioners more efficient than others? If you're planning to give your family the benefits of central air con- ditioning this summer, it's not too soon to take action. By shopping now, you'll avoid the seasonal rush, and you may even be able to make a better pre- season deal with your con- tractor. Shopping Tips • Get more than one bid on the installation. Before making a bid, the contrac- tor should visit your home in order to calculate its cooling requirements. The contractor should also look at your furnace and duct system to determine how easily air conditioning can be added. Most newer homes are designed to accept air conditioning; however, an old house may need adjustments in duct sizes and distribution. • Compare bids care- fully. Note whether they are for equipment with the same cooling capacity. Find out what kind of warranties cover the equipment. Be sure you understand the reason for any significant differences in cost. • Consider equipment efficiency. A high efficiency air-conditioner unit may cost more than a standard unit. However, the added cost could be offset in a few years' time by savings on your cooling bills. Some contractors offer computer services that can estimate "pay- off", or the length of time it will take for the added cost of efficient equipment to repay you in energy savings. If you already have a central air-conditioning system, but are reluctant to use it because of high utility bills, ARI has rec- ommendations to help you stay cool and save money. These simple tips cost nothing, yet they can mean a difference in your utility bills. • Set your thermostat at the highest comfort level; each degree you raise the thermostat will reduce your cooling energy con- sumption by three percent. e Keep shades and draperies drawn on the sunny side of the house; you'll be keeping out unnecessary "heat gain" that your air conditioner otherwise would have to remove from your home. • Change your air con- ditioner's air filter fre- quently; dirt and dust can cut down substantially on the equipment's effi- ciency. • Keep air-circulation registers clear of furniture and draperies; they cut down on the free flow of air through the room. • Clear overgrown shrubs and high grass from around your out- door condensing unit; it should have. no obstruc- tions to assure proper air circulation. • In a heat wave, turn your thermostat up even higher; try to maintain a moderate difference of no *his Sum more than 15 to 20 degrees between outdoor tempera- tures and your thermostat setting. You'll not only save energy, you'll avoid overworking your air con- ditioner. • Dress for warm wea- ther. Comfortable, light clothing can make a big difference in how you "weather" the weather. For long-range benefits. These steps are worthwhile investments for long-term energy savings: • Insulate-for sum- mer as well as winter sav- ings. Six inches of attic insulation can save $25 to $60 per summer in cooling energy costs, with even greater savings possible during the heating season. Insulation in other impor- tant areas-outside walls, crawl spaces, and around ducts going through un- conditioned areas-can help the savings mount up. • Weatherproof your home by making sure caulking and weatherstrip- ping seal potential leaks around doors and win- dows. Like insulation, in- sulated glass can help min- imize summer as well as winter utility costs. • Regular inspection and servicing of your air- conditioner helps keep it running efficiently. Rec- ommended: a service check-up each spring be- fore you turn the equip- ment on. mer When you purchase air- conditioning equipment. These tips wili help you get the most for your energy money: e Make sure the equip- ment is properly sized to meet, but not exceed,your home's cooling require- ments. Equipment that is- too large will waste energy and may cycle on and off so frequently that it won't maintain a comfortable humidity level. Equipment that is too small simply won't do the job. SPRING SPECIAL Have yourCARPETS professionally CLEANED only 3995 $ . 39 for Living Room, DlnIng Room and Adjacent Hall. Free Estimates on upholstery and additional rooms. HEADQUARTERS Il - - -~ BUQGET 683-4027 CARPET or CLEANING 686.2098 1 1 Everybody Into the Pool! Swimming pools are growing in favor as an alternative to expensive vacations away from home. According to one pool manufacturer in Atlanta, sales are up substantially. The manufacturer says peo- ple buying pools are turning their backyards into recreation rooms. An Ounce of Prevention To forestall an accu- mulation of lint in plumbing and the result- ing expensive repairs, an effective lint filter on the end of the washing machine hose can be fashioned very simply from aluminum screen- ing.