Prepared for: Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Report Dated: June 3, 1992
By: John Proctor, Amy Polack and Richard Jacobson
The 1990 project studied central air conditioners and gas forced-air furnaces. That project indicated a potential annual cooling savings of 24% and a potential coincident peak reduction of approximately 690 watts per unit. It also indicated a heating savings of 12%. These savings could be accomplished by implementing a well-controlled program that diagnosed and repaired duct leakage, air flow, and refrigerant overcharge.
Beyond the problems in the house conditioning system discovered in the 1990 project, there were major HVAC infrastructure problems that could reduce or eliminate the potential benefits of an air conditioner repair program. The 1990 project and the 1989 heat pump study (Proctor et al. 1990) found problems even in homes that were recently serviced. These infrastructure problems called for a systemic solution.
The Appliance Doctor Production System is a complete residential air conditioning system repair process which incorporates program management, training, and quality assurance, as well as repairs to the air conditioning system. This system is an outgrowth of quality assurance processes designed for controlling furnace and air sealing programs (Proctor 1984 and 1988; Proctor and Foster 1986). The Appliance Doctor Pre-Production Test (ADPT) was a comprehensive test of ADPS on a test group of 250 houses in Fresno, California.
The objectives of the Fresno Appliance Doctor Pre-Production Test were to:
Also see Immediate Impact ManagementTM and Program Design
Bound copies of this entire report are available for $25 each.
For details about obtaining a copy see How To Order Project Reports
