Efficiency of old AC unit vs. new / advice dealing with landlord
#1
08-15-18, 05:22 AM
Efficiency of old AC unit vs. new / advice dealing with landlord
Our daughter is renting an apartment. in the midwest (so it gets warm / hot).
The apartment comes with an AC unit. Helping her move in, I checked the filter on the (through the wall) ac unit and saw the filter was pretty clean, but the fins under the filter were very beat up (see picture)
Looking more into things, we see loads of dust / particles behind the upper vents where air goes back into the room.
Based on serial number / calling the manufacturer, they weren't sure because it was so old, but it seems like it might have been made in 1983. Kudos that it still runs. But how efficient?!
We stayed the night helping her move in. She has asthma and that started acting up that first night.
I checked the power meter that evening and then in the morning. It was hot outside (and somewhat less inside even with AC running all night at lowest setting.
The apartment used about 30 or 40 KWh (i forget the exact numbers) in that 10? hour period.
The management company initially balked at replacing the unit - based on the dust behind the screen and likely even more on the squirrel cage we couldn't see, mangled fins and poor efficiency (they aren't paying the electric bill : )
But we pushed mostly on heath and they did replace it . The old and new units were both 12K BTU. She's breathing much better now.
Checking the electric meter a week later (not as hot outside that time), with the new unit installed, the apartment used about 7KWhs over a similar 10 hour span.
1) I know new AC units are more efficient these days, but going from 30/40 to 7 KWh sound right? Same size units.
2) More a landlord / tenant issue: Any thoughts on how you would / did work the issue ? They say it's 'cooling', which it was. But it's not efficient and who knows what's growing in there after 35 years.
THANKS!
The apartment comes with an AC unit. Helping her move in, I checked the filter on the (through the wall) ac unit and saw the filter was pretty clean, but the fins under the filter were very beat up (see picture)
Looking more into things, we see loads of dust / particles behind the upper vents where air goes back into the room.
Based on serial number / calling the manufacturer, they weren't sure because it was so old, but it seems like it might have been made in 1983. Kudos that it still runs. But how efficient?!
We stayed the night helping her move in. She has asthma and that started acting up that first night.
I checked the power meter that evening and then in the morning. It was hot outside (and somewhat less inside even with AC running all night at lowest setting.
The apartment used about 30 or 40 KWh (i forget the exact numbers) in that 10? hour period.
The management company initially balked at replacing the unit - based on the dust behind the screen and likely even more on the squirrel cage we couldn't see, mangled fins and poor efficiency (they aren't paying the electric bill : )
But we pushed mostly on heath and they did replace it . The old and new units were both 12K BTU. She's breathing much better now.
Checking the electric meter a week later (not as hot outside that time), with the new unit installed, the apartment used about 7KWhs over a similar 10 hour span.
1) I know new AC units are more efficient these days, but going from 30/40 to 7 KWh sound right? Same size units.
2) More a landlord / tenant issue: Any thoughts on how you would / did work the issue ? They say it's 'cooling', which it was. But it's not efficient and who knows what's growing in there after 35 years.
THANKS!
#2
08-15-18, 05:44 AM
You would have to have the same outside conditions. The old ones you could bring to a car wash or hose, soap them down and wash and dry them. I would not try that today.They the new ones, use a lot less energy though.
