Do I need to leave the air conditioning run in my winter home during the summer when it is 100+ degrees?

Question

I have a winter home in Phoenix. In summer, when I am not there, I was told by a realtor that I should I set the air at the max of 88 degrees to protect the house because, "Heat can do weird things to houses." Is that really necessary? Am I just wasting resources or is it really not a good idea to let the house heat up when it is 120+ degrees in the summer? I have received mixed advice and am hoping to find a definitive answer from any experts out there…Thanks folks!

Answer 1

i would say no way, it'll cost you more money and its a waste.  if youre really concerned about the house getting too warm think about maybe a dehumidifier or a fan that is on a timer (so they are only on for a few hours a day, like around 2-3pm when it is hot.

Answer 2

Just get everything out of the house during the summer that could melt.

Answer 3

I guess the problem really is how do you keep your home from becoming 120 deg. in the summer so that you do not have to run the air.  A few years ago I was in Las Vegas visiting a Friend.  I asked him why all the windows in Vegas looked black, he told me that it was solar screening and blocked 80 to 90% of the heat out of the window.  So I began my research on the product and found that it indeed did work, so this year I started my own solar screening business  www.2gisolar.com and believe me with a very small investment your home will not see the 120 deg temps on the interior anymore, imagine 90% of that heat coming in ( mostly in your windows) so you should not see it get much past the 80's especially if you install an attic fan that will remove super hot air 125- 160 deg. from the attic. I have put these on dozens of homes here in Texas this year.  You can feel the difference in the room as soon as they get put on.

Answer 4

plant a few big trees... they'll pay for themselves saving your energy bill   =D

Answer 5

Shut the curtains, try window film.

Answer 6

Never heard that before.

If it were me, I'd not do it.  There are houses out there that have stood for hundreds of years with no AC running.  I'd just make sure I had someone watching the house check it periodically.

Answer 7

Leaving the A/C on when you are not there is just being wasteful and giving more money to the electric company.  Close the curtains over all the windows to keep the sun and the heat out.  People lived in very warm climates before the invention of air conditioning and nothing bad happened.  I'd be more concerned if your house was in a moister area such as Florida because of mold and mildew problems.

Answer 8

ac gives out a gas responsible for ozone depletion

Answer 9

I suppose it would depend on what you have in the house. Too much heat can warp your electronics, so if you have a TV, computer, etc., I would definitely leave it on.