Air-Conditioning Tips, Part II
Once the season has begun in earnest you need to make sure you understand what the air conditioner does and how to make it work more efficiently for you.
Whatever temperature you think you need to set the thermostat to, you can probably stand it a little higher. Just because it’s a scorching hot day and the A/C allows you to select 70 degrees does not mean that this is the best course of action. Consistency is the key to both comfort and optimum savings.
Maintaining a temperature of around 76-78 degrees should be more than comfortable and you can afford to go a little higher at night when it’s cooler out.
Keep the filter clean to avoid causing the A/C to work harder. Check with the manufacturers for the best way to clean your filter and the optimum time between cleaning sessions.
Combine air conditioning with ceiling fans. The constant circulation of air may allow to raise the thermostat by a few degrees while maintaining the same ambient temperature.
Close doors and vents into rooms you are not using. There’s no point in paying to cool somewhere you’re not.
What temperature is your thermostat set to in the Summer months?
Comments
Also in Houston: A/C completely switched off during the day until 8:30pm, 1/2h before we return home from work - then on 78 throughout the evening and switched off after 10:30pm during the night with all windows open & ceiling fans on. If it is above 85 at night A/C will continue to run at 78 until 2:30am. A/C comes back on 5:30am-6:00am until we leave for work. In total, A/C is running 3h/day on 78F during a normal summer day and 4h more at night if it is exceptionally hot. We have about 100$/mth electrical bill during the winter and less than 200$/mth during the summer, in a 3800 sqft home
Hog! we are in Houston Texas and set ours at 77 during the day and 79 at night, but with the ceiling fans on max high!
thermostat set to 75 during summer months