Patent ID: 7854141

Claim:
A method for modifying a self-contained air-conditioning unit to effect conservation of energy during operation of the unit, the unit having a housing including an exterior and an interior within which refrigerant is circulated through a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator, the housing having a basal surface adjacent a basal level, and the evaporator having a lowermost edge and placed within the housing with the lowermost edge closely adjacent the basal surface of the housing, the method comprising: elevating the lowermost edge of the evaporator to an elevated level spaced vertically above the basal level, and securing the evaporator in place within the housing with the lowermost edge at the elevated level; placing a condensate collection pan in a position beneath the lowermost edge of the evaporator for collecting condensate emanating from the evaporator during operation of the unit, at a selected level spaced vertically above the basal level by a vertical distance from the basal level; inserting a heat exchange conduit into the refrigerant circuit between the compressor and the condenser; placing a condensate reservoir tray adjacent the basal level; placing the heat exchange conduit within the condensate reservoir tray, in position to become immersed in condensate within the condensate reservoir tray; providing a condensate passage between the condensate collection pan and the condensate reservoir tray for the transfer of condensate from the condensate collection pan to the condensate reservoir tray; and selecting the vertical distance between the selected level and the basal level to assure effective transfer of condensate from the condensate collection pan to the condensate reservoir tray by gravity such that the heat exchange conduit will be immersed in condensate from the evaporator for the transfer of heat from the heat exchange conduit to condensate in the condensate reservoir tray during operation of the air-conditioning unit.