Does this really Save Money?

Question

I've been told to turn off my AC when no one is home to save money. Here's the kicker. I live in an area where its desert heat at over 100 degrees. When I come home the house is HOT so I turn on the air but the house doesnt really cool off until waay into the night, after we've been in bed for a few hours and its running constantly to cool off. Then we wake up, turn it off and go to work again. It seems to me that my Air conditioner is having to work double time just to cool down the house. So am i really saving money or just sweating my butt off for nothing?

Answer 1

set the thermostat to the temperature you like and leave it alone,if the size is proper for your house it will go off and come on when it needs to,by leaving it alone every thing in the house becomes ambient.what you are doing now isn't buying you Any thing,there are also specisal thermostats you can buy which are good,see any plumbing supply.

Answer 2

An investment of a programable thermostat is all worth it. You can set the temperature to slightly higher (say 82 or above) when you are not at home and have it switch to the temp you want a hour or two before you get home. The exact time it takes to get to the preferred temperature would depends on the size of your a/c unit and how it match with your house, etc. Most models can program weekdays and weekend separately. Some would even allow you to program for each day. I highly recommend you try it. It's easy to install and it cost less than 50 dollars.

Answer 3

No this doesnt save money because it has to work twice as hard to get your house cool again.It's better to turn the thermostat up to around 75 or 80 when you are away and turn it back down when you get home.

Answer 4

I've been told this does not save money.  Makes sense to me if your house gets so hot (and I know it does in you climate!), that means the furniture, walls, everything is having to be cooled when you do turn on the AC.  Plus, while your house is so hot, the refrigerator is having to work harder to stay cold.  I say maybe turn the thermostat up a few degrees, but not so much it's a virtual oven when you walk in.

Answer 5

it cost more since everything in the house---furniture, floors, walls. etc heat up so you are haveing to cool air and solid material..... just bump it up 5 degrees or so...to 80