How to keep room cooler with AC?
Question:I don't pay utilities so I can't run it up to what I want (freezing) my room seems to get warm at night and we keep it at a constant 76. What is the ideal temp to use? Will it cost a lot more? we live in a 3 bd house that is 2300 sq. ft two stories and the living room is vaulted all the way up to the up stairs. please help so I can sleep better. Thanks
Answers:
You will have to change your indoor arrangement habits at night to cool one small area instead of the whole house. Make use of any fans that you have. Also, if the house is very humid it will be warmer than if it were dry air. Close off any rooms that you aren't using (especially the room with vaulted ceiling) either by closing the doors or hanging heavy drapes. Make sure all windows are closed and reduce the amount of time outside doors are opened. This should help at night.
If you have a ceiling fan in your room, run it. It won't make the room cooler, only feel cooler. Also, make sure the air filters for the A/C get changed frequently. Build-up will lower performance significantly. Regular blue ones should be changed monthly, pleated are recommended for changing every 3 months. From what I've heard, the most cost-effective summer temperature is 78F, with minor deviations from that costing more.
Can you block off some of the rooms that aren't being used and just cool the space you need to cool? I don't know if you have vents in every room or what other type of system you have. If you have vents in the floor, you could cover up the vents so the A/C won't come into the rooms that aren't being occupied. It will take a little work to cover them up and close them tight enough so won't any air get through them. In my house all of the vents are in the floor whether I use the heat or the A/C. But it's not the same for everybody. Some have vents up high on the walls or ceiling for one and in the floor for the other.
I have mine set on about 76. If it gets too cold I just adjust it. Or too warm down to 74 or 75.
With the floor vents you can put things like books or etc. over them.
More Related Questions & Answers...