Turn off AC when at work?

[herofan]

I've read some articles that suggest completely turning off the central AC when gone to work; that will apparently save more energy than letting it run while away. Does anyone here do this, and does it save a lot on your bill?

 

[HDRider]

I'v heard the opposite.

They say everything (floor, walls, etc.) heats up and the AC has to work extra hard to cool down everything.

 

[herofan]

I'v heard the opposite.

They say everything (floor, walls, etc.) heats up and the AC has to work extra hard to cool down everything.

That seemed to be the thinking for a long time, and still among a lot of HVAC users, but I keep reading more and more about turning it off or at least turning it down, both heat and air. Experts now claim the old information is false and that a unit being off for 8 hours isn't going to use as much electricity as one being on for 8 hours, even if it does have to run a long time to return to the desired degree. that is starting to make sense to me.

I experimented with my heat last year and found it to be true. I estimated how often my unit would kick on and run if I left it on for 24 hours vs shutting it off 8 hours, and it figured up to run less by turning it off 8 hours. Last year, we had a cold winter, with temps getting to 0 at times, and I actually used less than during a previous mild winter.

It seems like it takes longer for the air conditioning to return to it's desired temperature than the heat. That was my only issue, so I wondered if anyone else had experimented.

 

[M-5]

That might work some places but not here. I do however have a program able thermostat. I have it set so after we leave in morning to not come on until 82 but hour before we get home 74 .

 

[herofan]

That might work some places but not here. I do however have a program able thermostat. I have it set so after we leave in morning to not come on until 82 but hour before we get home 74 .

So, at least you believe having it run at 82 instead of a constant 74 saves energy.

 

[Ouachita]

Thermodynamic and radiant energy would work to your advantage in the winter months, assuming the 8 hour period you are away from home is in the daytime. I'm certain you would save money turning a HVAC unit "heat" completely off and use less energy. Not so sure about summertime A/C use. In theory, it should take the same amount of energy to maintain the temp as it would to catch up after 8 hrs, but radiant energy is heating your house, walls, ceiling, furniture and etc. Heat from your refrigerator, freezer, and other home appliances and electronic generate heat that helps during the winter and hurts during the summer.
I leave my A/C on during the 70-80 days average per year that we use it.

 

[Bigfoot]

Except for July and August, an AC unit wouldn't kick on much at night around here. A timer during the day, probably wouldn't be a bad idea. I would think raising the thermostat 8 degrees would be sufficient. I don't think I would turn it all the way off.

 

[TexasBred]

It's 104 degrees outside right now.....I don't care if mine doesn't cut off until first frost !!!!

 

[Ouachita]

It's 104 degrees outside right now.....I don't care if mine doesn't cut off until first frost !!!!

Agreed. I drove to visit a neighbor a couple hours ago. The thermometer on the mirror in my truck said 112. That can't be right...............it was parked in the sun. So I walk over to wife's Yukon parked in the shade and it said 110. Just checked the NOAA site and it said 106 right now (6pm) with a 108 high today. Miserable.........no I'm not turning the A/C off.

 

[bball]

The real co.fort from AC is provided by removing the humidity in your house. You'd save a little by turning tstat up while at work, but the worst thing you can do is open the house up when a few day cool spell rolls in, let's house 'swell' with moisture, then AC costs you to remove humidity when you have to close it up with next heatwave. Better off just leaving AC on. Programmable tstat is way to go

 

[Drzr]

That might work some places but not here. I do however have a program able thermostat. I have it set so after we leave in morning to not come on until 82 but hour before we get home 74 .

So, at least you believe having it run at 82 instead of a constant 74 saves energy.

ABSOLUTELY!!!

 

[Drzr]

I have NO intention after dealing with a hot environment, people with hot and nasty attitudes and come home to a hot house...that's why I work.... to have some comfort!

 

[jedstivers]

Except for July and August, an AC unit wouldn't kick on much at night around here. A timer during the day, probably wouldn't be a bad idea. I would think raising the thermostat 8 degrees would be sufficient. I don't think I would turn it all the way off.

My house is insulated well, was built in 07, has good windows. My AC runs a big part of the night just to stay on 74. Anything else is to cold and sometimes I turn it to 75.
We use AC every month of the year at least some.

 

[Caustic Burno]

I have NO intention after dealing with a hot environment, people with hot and nasty attitudes and come home to a hot house...that's why I work.... to have some comfort!

Touching the thermostat here would be dealt with by extreme prejudice.

 

[greybeard]

I have NO intention after dealing with a hot environment, people with hot and nasty attitudes and come home to a hot house...that's why I work.... to have some comfort!

Touching the thermostat here would be dealt with by extreme prejudice.

Touching the down arrow button is all that is allowed here as well.

I never intentionally turn mine off in summer, and don't give one rat's butt what the bill is or how much energy I use or what kind of fuel that energy comes from or who makes $$ off of it--or how much.

 

[dun]

We run 82 during the summer and 72 during the winter. Cealing fans run continuously in the summer and longies are standard attire in the winter.

 

[talltimber]

I see I share sentiments with some others here. We have ours set on 71 and it felt great when I came in, clothes soaked. I don't care if the bill is 400 bucks, it was worth it.

 

[herofan]

I guess it's nice for those who don't have to worry what the bill is; I've always wondered what it would feel like for money to not be an issue with anything.

 

[milkmaid]

I leave mine off during the day if the dogs are outside. Now that I have a litter of new pups inside, I've been keeping the AC on so the dam is comfortable....

:lol:

My electric bill doesn't seem to be affected by whether the AC is on or not, haven't figured out what uses the most energy. I'm a bit more concerned how much the bill will increase due to the heat lamp being on 24/7....

 

[1982vett]

We run 82 during the summer and 72 during the winter. Cealing fans run continuously in the summer and longies are standard attire in the winter.

82...... :shock: we use the oven in the kitchen to cook roasts.....not the sofa in the living room :lol:

We have two units and 4 zones. Two zones are set to 70, the other two not regularly used are set to 75. Rarely catch those two zones running

No telling how many acre feet of sweat I've produced in my life.....I'm not going to sweat sittin in my house! Coming home to furniture radiating heat for hours doesn't work for me either. But seeing We aren't gone for more than several hours at a time anyway.

Now if someone can explain why my wife is hot with is set at 70 in the winter and cold with it set at 70 in the summer..... I would appreciate it.