Is it more energy efficient to put your a/c on high for a short period of time, or low for a longer period of?

Question

time?

Answer 1

First off, I am going to assume you mean a window air conditioner because central air systems normally do not have a low and high setting. Everything that follows is referring to a window unit.

As AR2 said above the low medium and high settings effect the fan speed. Assuming that because the fan doesn't use much power the fan speed does not matter is wrong though. If you have the fan on low, and you walk around the room, and feel a difference in the temperature, then you can lower the bill by setting it to medium or high. This is because at medium or high, the fan will circulate more air through the coils, and affect more of the room. Also note the temperature control on the air conditioner is not based on the temperature of the room. It is based on the temperature of the cooling coil inside the air conditioner, which is affected by the temperature of the room. In a large room, circulating the air faster will cause a more stable temperature throughout the room. The more stable the temperature, the less the compressor has to run. If the room is small enough though, you will use less electricity by using the air conditioner on low. This is because on low the air spends more time passing through the cooling coils, and thus has more time too cool off.

Above, Doctor has it right. It costs less to run an air conditioner at a stable temperature than it does to constantly change it.

Above, Easter G is also right to an extent. Yes, setting the fan to low will allow more moisture to be removed from the air that passes through it. The problem here is in large rooms there will be air that doesn't move when the air conditioner is on low. If the air doesn't go through the air conditioner, then how will the air conditioner remove any humidity from it?

Answer 2

if you run your a/c  on a steady temp. lets say 80 degree during  the day  and night you will save money in the long run if you turn the ac down and up all the time it cost you  and if you run on high  this is only the fan but  the possibility is  that the incoming air is not cooled very  good because  the air flow is to fast to be cooled  enough

Answer 3

Changing from low to high only changes the blower fan speed.  The fan doesn't consume much power.  Just set the fan to a setting -- whether high or low -- that gives you the most efficient and comfortable cooling.

It is the compressor that eats up most of the power in an a/c system.  To save power, set the thermostat to a higher temperature.  This causes the compressor to run less and thereby saves you power in the long run.

Answer 4

I saw a thing on TV the other day and she suggested putting it on low that way it draws more humidity out. If you put it on high it draws less humidity.