AC question
- Thread starter stdreb27
- Start date
nordy
Active Member
I can't give evidence by way of KWH used, but with my A/C, I used to turn it off and then crank it when I got home. It took so long working at full power to make the house comfortable when I ran it that way that I started turning it to about 82 during the day so the house doesn't cook and turn it down a bit when I get home.
My educated guess is that it might be a little cheaper to turn it off during the day, but I'm not really sure about that. I think your comfort level is the more important consideration, if you can stand the elecric bill. To really determine which mode was cheaper, you would need some way to measure/record KWH usage on days with outside temps as close as possible, while operating your A/C in the each mode. Try taking readings on your meter each day at the same time, with exactly the same other appliances on each day and you should be able to tell which modes is actually cheaper.
At the condo I manage, I keep the temp just a degree or two below the level where people complain about the hallways being too warm. Then if they do complain, I turn it down and then slowly turn it up again. It's a fine line between economy and comfort.
My educated guess is that it might be a little cheaper to turn it off during the day, but I'm not really sure about that. I think your comfort level is the more important consideration, if you can stand the elecric bill. To really determine which mode was cheaper, you would need some way to measure/record KWH usage on days with outside temps as close as possible, while operating your A/C in the each mode. Try taking readings on your meter each day at the same time, with exactly the same other appliances on each day and you should be able to tell which modes is actually cheaper.
At the condo I manage, I keep the temp just a degree or two below the level where people complain about the hallways being too warm. Then if they do complain, I turn it down and then slowly turn it up again. It's a fine line between economy and comfort.
goober_hunter
Member
if its not to hot were you live you should run ceiling fans on high for the days (if it will not hurt your tank or other animals). its cheaper
i run my a/c from around 5 pm to 6am.
just my 2 cents. (im a a/c tech.)
i run my a/c from around 5 pm to 6am.
just my 2 cents. (im a a/c tech.)
coraljunky
Active Member
Woohoooo, I get to give professional advice. It is cheaper to run the system at a higher temperature while not at home vs. turning it off. Along with the temp rising with it off, humidity will eventually build and saturate the house. When I'm not home, my thermostat is set to 79 and 76 when I'm home. It is important to use, and regularly replace, a quality are filter. The use of cheap are filters allow particles to pass and build on the cooling(evaporator) coil causing less air to pass across. This will cause the system to run longer $$$$$$$$$
coraljunky
Active Member
Have you ever tried leaving it off during this time of year? How hot does it get? What's the humidity like?
stdreb27
Active Member
Originally Posted by goober_hunter
http:///forum/post/2718576
if its not to hot were you live you should run ceiling fans on high for the days (if it will not hurt your tank or other animals). its cheaper
i run my a/c from around 5 pm to 6am.
just my 2 cents. (im a a/c tech.)
I'm in houston it is pretty warm.
Originally Posted by coraljunky
http:///forum/post/2718610
Have you ever tried leaving it off during this time of year? How hot does it get? What's the humidity like?
That is how I did before I set up the tank in july.
I haven't tried to see how hot my tank gets during the day with the power off. But at these prices I'll go out and buy a chiller, it is august now, I have sep and half of oct with 90+ degrees days. I was looking at 180 to 250 when my wife demanded that I actually keep the air below 80 while we were home. If this difference is running the AC all day around 80 then bumping it down while in bed. The skimmer would drop my bills. and pay for itself before the hot weather ended.
http:///forum/post/2718576
if its not to hot were you live you should run ceiling fans on high for the days (if it will not hurt your tank or other animals). its cheaper
i run my a/c from around 5 pm to 6am.
just my 2 cents. (im a a/c tech.)
I'm in houston it is pretty warm.
Originally Posted by coraljunky
http:///forum/post/2718610
Have you ever tried leaving it off during this time of year? How hot does it get? What's the humidity like?
That is how I did before I set up the tank in july.
I haven't tried to see how hot my tank gets during the day with the power off. But at these prices I'll go out and buy a chiller, it is august now, I have sep and half of oct with 90+ degrees days. I was looking at 180 to 250 when my wife demanded that I actually keep the air below 80 while we were home. If this difference is running the AC all day around 80 then bumping it down while in bed. The skimmer would drop my bills. and pay for itself before the hot weather ended.
coraljunky
Active Member
Turning down the temp of the water heater(if electric) will help too. Hot water heaters soak up alot of power.
T
tizzo
Guest
That's kinda what we do... we tried 78, but the ac never turned off and the temp never fell below 80.
So we submissed and bumped up the air during the day to 81, then as it cools off outside, we drop it to 78.
At least now, it turns off sometimes.
At least now, it turns off sometimes.
nordy
Active Member
A chiller on your tank will allow you to keep the house warmer and save some on cooling costs, but keep in mind that unless you place the chiller outside or in another part of the house, it will heat up any room it is in-every KWH of energy consumed by the chiller will be deposited in whatever room it is in.
stdreb27
Active Member
Originally Posted by Nordy
http:///forum/post/2719183
A chiller on your tank will allow you to keep the house warmer and save some on cooling costs, but keep in mind that unless you place the chiller outside or in another part of the house, it will heat up any room it is in-every KWH of energy consumed by the chiller will be deposited in whatever room it is in.
Do does the fridge.
http:///forum/post/2719183
A chiller on your tank will allow you to keep the house warmer and save some on cooling costs, but keep in mind that unless you place the chiller outside or in another part of the house, it will heat up any room it is in-every KWH of energy consumed by the chiller will be deposited in whatever room it is in.
Do does the fridge.