Air conditioning question

I keep my central a/c on all the time. I figure that the cats are here more then I an, they might as well be cool. It's always set at 70.
I went to Chicago one weekend (the first time I'd EVER been away from my babies for more then a day) and the a/c went bad but Brads mom didn't catch it, so we came home to an 85 degree(and rising since it was all closed up) house, I was livid! I know it really wasn't her fault but I mean she could've checked a little better, so now I'm REALLY nervous when it comes to leaving my kits unless Brad is here. I guess I'm anal. Is that wrong???

I'm sorry but this thread is funny! What's A/C? Up here we don't even have screens on our windows for the most part. During high summer, if it gets UP to 65 at night, that's a heat wave!!!

But then again, I was raised and bred in Maryland so I comiserate Pamela!

Originally Posted by Hydroaxe

It's common sense like the quote says. When the AC is off, you're not spending any money on electricity. It does take some time to cool off the house when you do get back, but it doesn't cost you more electricity to do that. It's silly to think that.

It's like two other myths that letting your computer run all night or letting your car stay running while you go into a store costs less gas than shutting it off. No way.

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Well, I find this very interesting.. I just looked at the poll and as of now, 7 people leaves ac on all the time, 6 will turn ac on low while out then ac on high when home and 5 turn ac off when they're out!

Now I feel better because now I know it's not just my friends who are giving me conflicting info about the cheapest/energy effective way of using A/C!

At the same time, I feel more frustrated since I am still not sure what the best option is. As of now, I tend to turn AC on when I'm home only. The only times I'd leave AC on while being out is if it's very hot outside.

Guess I will keep researching. Keep ur opinions and polls coming!

I'm sorry but this thread is funny! What's A/C? Up here we don't even have screens on our windows for the most part. During high summer, if it gets UP to 65 at night, that's a heat wave!!! But then again, I was raised and bred in Maryland so I comiserate Pamela!

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I know what u mean about this thread being funny. I wasn't sure if I should post this thread cuz it's kinda a dumb question but at the same time, I found it interesting that all of my friends were giving me conflicting info so I was wondering if it'd be same on tcs.. Apparently so!

Lucky u about not needing AC! Thank u for the sympathy!

Originally Posted by Pamela

I know what u mean about this thread being funny. I wasn't sure if I should post this thread cuz it's kinda a dumb question ......

Lucky u about not needing AC! Thank u for the sympathy!

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oh hon, I don't see where anything is dumb in the Lounge!

We used to keep it about 76 during the day and 80 at night since then it just would not come on...but slowly over two years I acclimated ourselves to use it at 80- all the time and my bill dropped to half of what it was before as in saving almost $100 per month. So now we just keep it at 80 and use cieling fans...we do fine.

I have a 8000 BTU window unit which I install when we get our first heat wave, usually in June. Last summer, I used it maybe a dozen times, and I kept it on low at that. It wasn't a hot or very humid summer, though I am on a ground level apartment with a large tree directly in front of the living room window, which helps immensely. No sun gets in the other windows, being adjacent to another old low-rise brownstone. I'm really looking forward to moving out of this place. But hey, at least Mik and Lex have their cat tree in the best spot in the house... they love all the critters that hang out in that tree!

We installed a programable thermostate that controls the temperature. We keep the temperature slightly higher when we are not home but not much because of the kids. I like heat and will not turn the air conditioner on simply because I am not warm but my husband is always hot so he kept turning it on. One day when we got home and turned on the air conditioner he pointed out the kitts by the ducts panting. So we got a programable thermostat so I don't have to think about it.

Personally I prefer that the house to be 68 degrees all the time. Ken and I don't even run the furnace heater in the winter unless it gets really really cold, I mean it's got to be in the teens for us to turn the heater on. But we do have a few small heaters that we run for the babies when we are home and when we are away. The have auto shut-offs on it if they get tipped over or something lands on it. I would die without A/C

I don't know what's more cost effective. When I'm not home, though, Sierra is. I don't want her getting too hot, and it can get pretty got here during the summer! I leave the AC on a comfortable temp. all the time.

I'll go way off base here: I don't turn ours on unless it is over 90 and raining. The ceiling fans work great the rest of the time. Guaranteed to save a couple hundred a month that way. I have a ground source heat pump that both heats in winter and cools in the summer. I can get the house cooled down as necessary in about 10 minutes.

And yes, I like the heat!

I don't have air

I don't like them they make me to cold

I know with my home, it is a sauna if we don't let the air keep it cool all the time. We tend to leave it at about 77-78 in the summer and 72 in the winter. It hasn't been too expensive either. It would have to work hard to cool this place off. When we've had it off and it's gotten hot in here it has to run forever to get cool in here.

I leave mine on all the time, because with the weather as hot as it's been this summer, as soon as I turn it off, the temperature starts rising - I tried turning it off for a bit one day, and the temperature rose by three degrees in about five minutes! So I keep it turned on, to 22 degrees celsius (72 degrees fahrenheit) 24 hours a day. That said, I don't have to pay my hydro bill, utilities are inculded in my rent, so if I had to pay the bill myself, it would be a different story!

I only have the window units that cost like a million dollars a month to run, plus with all the fans, my place stays comfortable without the AC on all day, so I generally turn it off. I also like to keep my energy consumption down as much as possible whle still keeping myself and the kits comfy

it's never hot enough here in NZ for AC

I have 2 rotating fans that I leave on 42/7 in the summer but only turn on the aircon in the afternoon if its above 85 and have it on at night just cool enough so we can sleep without sweating. Otherwise If I'm home have all the windows open and when I'm out leave the bathroom and kitchen windows open as they have bars on them.
Ginger just goes and sleeps in the bathroom if she's too hot.

I didn't vote, because you didn't have a "no AC" option! We have central air, but I won't use it. I spend 9 mos out of the year cold, I am not about to do it in the summer too! I absolutely can't stand to have cold air blowing on me. Or warm air, for that matter. Fans drive me crazy, I can't stand to have them blowing my hair around, and just making me feel cold. I like a nice natural breeze though. I open all the windows and enjoy the fresh air! I do keep an eye on my animals to make sure they aren't getting too warm though. The cats just seek out the window with the best breeze, I've never seen them panting or anything. The dogs spend a lot of time in the kitchen on the tile floor. They are long haired, so I bought a tool that thins/shortens thier coats, and I keep thier belly hair trimmed so they stay cooler. Hamsters get ice bottles in thier cage. Everyone gets plenty of cold, fresh water to drink. I have poor circulation, so once I get cold, I can't get warm again for a long while. I live for these 3 mos of warm weather every year!

Amber

When I had central air in TN, I kept it set at 76, day or night, and kept the ceiling fan in my bedroom on low speed 24/7. I had the cheapest pwr bill of anyone in my building (yeah, I checked) In winter, I kept the heat at 68 and wore a sweater/sweats. I try to conserve $$$$ and this served to save money AND power.

Now I don't have AC, but I only feel the need for it here about two months out of the year, so I'm not bothered. I have a ceiling fan and room fans set on low, and since I have a tri-level, i just spend a lot of time in the lowest level which is largely below-grade and stays cooler for most of the day.