grant_torres•10d agoProlific Poster

Found a weird thing about my AC unit in Phoenix

I was reading this article last week about how letting your AC run all day actually uses less energy than turning it off when you leave. Always thought it was better to shut it off and save power. But apparently in really hot places like Phoenix where I live, the compressor has to work way harder to cool the house back down from 100 degrees than if you just let it maintain like 85. My electric bill last month was $230 and I'm trying to cut that down. I tested it out for 3 days this week and it actually seemed to run less overall. Has anyone else tried this or got a different method for keeping their AC efficient in the summer heat?

2 comments

2 Comments

alicebarnes10d ago

Wow, that's actually super interesting you tested it yourself! I've been doing the opposite for years, turning my AC off during the day to save money. But now I'm wondering if I've been wasting more power all along. The way you put it about the compressor having to work extra hard makes total sense though - like how your car uses more gas getting up to speed on the freeway than just cruising at a steady pace. I bet it's the same principle with AC units in that extreme heat.

anthony1659d ago

Wait, @alicebarnes, are you sure about that car analogy? The compressor working harder for a shorter time is way different than an engine cruising at a constant speed. I mean, I get the logic, but three days isn't really enough to prove anything with the weather changing so much in Phoenix.