May I please have some good advice on air conditioning?
Question:I maintain that it is more cost-efficient to keep the central air conditioning on at a high temperature (like 79 or 80 degrees) if I'm going away for a long weekend, than to turn it off and have to cool down a hot house when I return. Friends tell me this isn't true. Does any expert out there know the answer?
Answers:
You are quite right to a point. It does take much more energy to cool a hot house then one that has been kept at a moderate temp. while not at home. However, some of the newer units are designed to cool more quickly using less energy, (SEER Rating). If your unit is 4 years old or older, you are on the right track. Keep the outside unit clean. Have the indoor coil and blower checked in the spring and change your filters on a regular basis and your unit will run at its greatest efficiency.
Most people would agree it would be more cost efficient to keep it at a higher temp. It would run for hours and hours if it had to bring the temp down from a high degree.
Leave it on about 85-88
If you were going to be gone for a few hours then it makes sense to leave it on but if you are going to be gone for a few days then you should shut it right off.
I maintain my temp at about 75 or 76, home or not. In my opinion that works best. I'm no expert though. I think that if you bring up your temp to above 80 during the day and then try to cool it down to 70ish that works your ac harder and counters your savings during the day.
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