Window air conditioner question?

Question

I am wondering if running my window air conditioners on "fan only" actually is saving any energy? If so, is it enough to justify doing it instead of having them on some setting of "cool?" I do this when it's not quite hot enough, in my opinion, to justify running them, but I do want some air moving or it'll get hot and muggy inside.

Answer 1

When it's on "fan only" mode, it would be the equivalent to placing a fan in the room and turning it on.  Fans, once they start turning at full speed do not consume very much power at all.  When you set the A/C to 'cool' it turns on the compressor.  The compressor does all the "hard work" by pumping the refrigeration liquid around in your ac unit and is what will run your electric bill up.