Should I Turn the A/C Off When I Leave The House?

There are several things to keep in mind when deciding whether to turn off your air conditioning when you leave your house. A good rule of thumb is, if you are going to be gone for a short time, it is best to leave it on, and if you are going to be gone a long time, it is best to turn it off.

What a long or short time is, can be subjective. If you are gone a whole day and turn your air conditioning off, it will make your unit work harder to cool the house down again. You may save a little on electricity, but lose a little on wear and tear. Being gone a whole week would be different, but even then you could set it at a very high level so it will not run much.

It is a good idea to raise the thermostat while you are not in the house if you are not going to turn it off. Air conditioners also remove humidity, and that could be a reason to leave it on. Generally, about 15 degrees less than the outside temperature is a good setting.  If it is 90 degrees outside, a setting of 75 should keep you comfortable.  If you are going to be gone a few days, you could set your thermostat at 90, or just turn it off until you return.

The professional staff at One Stop Heating & Air are always happy to answer your questions about air conditioning.

Importance of maintenance

An even more important question is how much maintenance your unit needs. Air conditioners are built to last a long time, and they will if they are maintained properly.

We have a maintenance plan that calls for service twice per year, as well as a maintenance plan for whenever you need it.  It is a good idea to have your unit inspected and repaired as needed twice a year. One Stop Heating & AIr offers plans to meet your needs, and we will come out and inspect a unit that is struggling to help get it to running better.

You may save some money by monitoring the temperature, and adjusting depending on whether you are there or not. You will save even more by keeping your system running at its best.

Looking for efficiency

If you have had your unit for a couple of decades, it may be time to replace it even if it is working. A more energy efficient system will operate better than one built 20-30 years ago. The latest technology gives you lower operating costs, and more control over the details of cooling your home. There are programmable units that will adjust to the temperature outside, and you won’t have to worry about turning them off anymore. .

Another aspect of efficiency is to have a unit that is the right size for the area you are trying to cool.  Air Conditioning units are built to cool a certain amount of space. Having one that fits that model will be more efficient, will work better and will last longer. A unit that is too small will have to work a lot harder, and will wear out sooner. A unit that is too big will also have issues.

Programmable thermostat

Many new systems have a programmable thermostat built in, but you can add one to an older system without a lot of difficulty. You can connect this to your smartphone, and always have the controls within easy reach.  Once you have it set the way you want, you may not need to touch it again, but the connection to a smartphone can be convenient.

With a programmable thermostat, you can set it to keep the temperature within 15 degrees of outside temperatures. You may also set it to adjust to when you come home, go to bed at night, or if you know ahead of time you will be gone for a few days. This is more energy efficient than trying to remember to change the thermostat manually.

Going ductless

Another option in the search for efficiency is a ductless system, where each room has its own unit. This can be more efficient because it can be adjusted for each space you want to cool. A bedroom not in use during the day, could be set higher than your living room, which is occupied all day. You may also control these units remotely with your phone, or program them to do what you need at specific times.

These units need professional installation as well as central units. Correct installation is part of the overall picture of having an energy-efficient air conditioning system that won’t break the bank.

Give us a call

Call One Stop Heating & Air for all your heating and air conditioning needs.  We also offer emergency services for when the unexpected happens. Keeping all your air conditioning equipment safe and efficient is our priority.