Question for those with Central AC

I recently had it installed and it's a dream (never had it before). I have a few questions:

1) I have it set at 72 degrees all the time, but I tend to feel very warm just at night. Does this happen to anyone else? Should I drop the temp for nighttime?

2) The installer recommended i leave it on constantly until the weather cools since it has to work harder if I turn it on and off all the time. Do you leave it on all the time?

Re: Question for those with Central AC

Our is set at 78. Yes, we leave it on constantly and it pretty much runs continuously throughout the day, especially from 11-3pm. I'm home all day during the summer. 72 would be too cold for me but whatever you are comfortable with. Can you program it to lower a bit at night? We will be getting a ceiling fan in our bedroom to help with this at night (second floor bedroom).

DH keeps telling me it's more efficient than even a couple of window units running sporadically. He grew up with CAC, I had no AC at all. I guess we'll see when we get the next LIPA bill

Re: Question for those with Central AC

We set ours at 73 during the day, and at night put it to 71, sometimes we'll even put it lower if we feel warm.

Re: Question for those with Central AC

Ours has a timer and we set it to go lower at night. It's very efficient and it's better to leave it on all season and just raise/lower the temp as needed.

Enjoy it!!

Re: Question for those with Central AC

We keep ours at 74 during the day (but I tend to drop it down between 72-70 when I'm home.)

At night I bring it down to 68, but that's because I'm pregnant and the hormones are doing a job on me.

Re: Question for those with Central AC

I live in an apt with CAC

we keep it at 74 all the time, unless we leave for an extended period of time, like when we go to work. I raise it to 76 before I leave.

we never shut it off, it's on all summer. and it's very true, it has to work MUCH harder and use up a lot more energy if you keep turning it on and off. I was told it's like the winter, no one shuts off their heat - same concept. it took me a while to accept it, since I grew up in a house where I got 'yelled' at for turning on the A/C when it was 90 degrees out

Message edited 7/4/2006 1:11:19 PM.

Re: Question for those with Central AC

Posted by Tah-wee-ZAH

DH keeps telling me it's more efficient than even a couple of window units running sporadically. He grew up with CAC, I had no AC at all. I guess we'll see when we get the next LIPA bill

Message edited 7/4/2006 1:16:34 PM.

Re: Question for those with Central AC

THanks everyone I'm thinking I'll raise the temp abit when I'm at work and lower it at bedtime. We do have a programable thermostat.

Re: Question for those with Central AC

We leave it on all day also, but at 78 when we are at work and 72 when we get home and for sleeping. We use ceiling fans too which really help you get the most out of your CAC.

Re: Question for those with Central AC

Re: Question for those with Central AC

WE keep ours at 78 normally when we are home and 76 at night UNLESS it's SUPREMELY hot out...when it goes over 90 (we're in GA) the CAC will onnly keep the house 15 degrees cooler (if it's 95, the house will maintain 80 degrees) so I'll turn it up to 81 or 82 to keep the unit from running non-stop all day.

In not so hot temps, 80 when we're not here, I can deal with it at 80, then we'll turn it down to 78 or 76 at night.

Re: Question for those with Central AC

Re: Question for those with Central AC

During the day, when I am home, the CAC is programmed to be at 75-76. At night, we have it programmed at 78, but DH complains its too warm (and it is at times). So we drop it at night to 75-76. Our CAC is brand new this summer, and if we had it any lower than 74, our house would be like a meat locker!!!

Re: Question for those with Central AC

Maybe we are polar bears. I keep it at 68-69 during the day and 67 at night with a ceiling fan (oh and a down comfortor ).

Re: Question for those with Central AC

I am always hot at night and lower mine to about 75 during the night. During the day I like it at 77.

Re: Question for those with Central AC

OUrs set warmer during the day cause we arent home at night it drops to 72

Re: Question for those with Central AC

Keep it on 72 during the day and 70 at night.....

Re: Question for those with Central AC

Posted by MrsRbk

That's what we do. Although I think DH was a polar bear in another life, because he sets it really low at night, in addition to running the celing fan

Re: Question for those with Central AC

We leave it on all the time

We actually set it a few degrees warmer at night when we are sleeping to save on energy but yeah, if you are too warm I would lower it at night.

Re: Question for those with Central AC

I keep ours set at 70 during the day and 68 at night. LOVE to be able to hang meat!!

Re: Question for those with Central AC

I just learned something again about CAC.. don't turn it off... LOL.. I am soo clueless when it comes to this.. I usually turn my CAC off when I leave for work and then turn it back on when I get home, I guess it makes sense to just program it with the timer and leave it on to save energy.. could you tell I'm not used to this..

Message edited 7/5/2006 12:14:17 PM.

Re: Question for those with Central AC

We also have Central Air and have a digital thermostat which keeps our electric bill pretty low.

We always leave it on 74 degrees when were home and when were at work it's set at 76 degrees. When we return home from work it's still very comfortable although I like my house chilled. Upstairs tends to be warmer than downstairs and I also feel it needs to be turned up a bit.

Yes, we leave it on all the time. When were home it's in the summer it's turned up more than when were out. In the winter it's turned down more when were home than when were out and in the Fall and Spring it's off and the windows are open, depending on the tempature outside.

HTH

Re: Question for those with Central AC

I don't have CAC, but am envious for all of you that do...this is TOTALLY a must when we own a home...

(Save post to notebook!)

Re: Question for those with Central AC

we have ours set to 74 when we're home and 77 when we leave for the day

can't live without the cac!!!

Re: Question for those with Central AC

We've been keeping ours at 76. We're new in the house so we're adjusting to it...but we definitely need a new thermostat for it so that we can be more efficient (b/c we will shut it off b/c the place gets really cold, really fast).