Wondering if you should turn off AC when you’re not home? On one hand, you'll definitely not be using energy while you're out, but on the other, it could use more energy to cool down a hotter home later. Keep reading to find the best recommendation from the experts at Appleby Systems.
There are many common questions that homeowners consider when it comes to their air conditioners:
Sometimes finding the right answer can be confusing and lead to no action. That’s why we want to help you understand what the best course of action is for your air conditioner especially when you’re not at home.
Energy consumers are taking an active interest in energy efficiency in an effort to save money on monthly utility bills and also to help save the planet. Homeowners typically assume that in order to be more energy efficient, they should turn their AC off when they are not home.
While this is a great effort to be more conscious of energy consumption, it’s not actually necessary. Our top recommendation is to leave it running a couple of degrees higher than you'd want for comfort. I.e., if you like it set at 21 when you're home, run it around 23 or 24. That way, it keeps the home from getting too hot and needing to draw more energy later while also saving a bit of energy. It's generally more efficient to keep it running at a steady state than to turn it on and off.
In summary, turning your thermostat up is a more effective way to save money on home cooling when you’re not home instead of turning the AC off altogether.
Turning the thermostat up will provide your AC with the opportunity to take a much-needed break from keeping your house cool. It will still provide you with the benefits of having the AC running, such as keeping your home a comfortable temperature for when you arrive home, improving the air quality, acting as a defence against mold and bugs, and preventing drastic temperature changes that can cause disruption to features such as wood floors and pipes.
When you turn your air conditioner off when you leave in the morning, it has to work harder to start up again and cool your house. However, when you keep your house lightly air-conditioned, you save the air conditioner the hard work of cooling your house from scratch every day. This more balanced way of cooling saves both money and energy in the long run.
If you have more questions about air conditioners, including air conditioning maintenance, contact us anytime. We’d be happy to speak with you!
