How high is high for airconditioning?

PrincessPerky · #1 (**permalink**) 05-12-2005, 05:31 AM

Kindof a parralell to the Q I asked in the winter, Summer is essentially here in NC (though it certainly gets worse) and while I havn't had to turn the air on yet, I don't know how much longer that will last.

We usually set it at 80 (yeah it is hot, celing fans help) so the house has to be consistantly higher than 80 before we turn it on. (a frequent occurance in late July or August)

Whats your setting?

mjrube94 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-12-2005, 08:56 AM

I leave it at 80 degrees during the day, because I never grew up with A/C, and so am used to going without. Hubby, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. So I usually lower it to about 76 around 5:00 at night (and he sometimes lowers it to 74 after that!). The house doesn't usually get much hotter than 80, and if it does, I plan my trips to the store, library, etc. around it.

DeNovi · #3 (**permalink**) 05-12-2005, 05:56 PM

I am assuming you have central air conditioning and now a window unit... so on c/a/c as i worked for my dad for years as his secretary who ran an a/c htg company.
My suggestions to you, is have your thermostat set at 78 degrees with the ceiling fans runnng the proper way... they have to be blowing down...
DO NOT PUT THERMOSTAT FAN ON the ON POSITION... Your ELECTRIC WILL BE WAY HIGH

Keep it on AUTOMATIC... and make sure you change your furnace filters MONTHLY That makes a huge Difference and on the outside unit make sure it is cleaned.. you can hose it down with water from your hose.. you will be surprised of the gunk that will come out..

if you ever have a repair man come out and he says it needs freon or low on gas, make sure they LEAK CHECK the system and warranty such... hope it helps Marie

PrincessPerky · #4 (**permalink**) 05-13-2005, 04:04 AM

Thanks we do have the fan on auto, I always figured it knew what that meant cause I certainly didn't!

I will try to go hose it off tonight, after I get DH to weed eat it. (though we still havn't turned it on)

DeNovi · #5 (**permalink**) 05-14-2005, 11:33 PM

you are quite welcome. hope it helped you!!!

CheaplyClever · #6 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 05:54 AM

[make sure you change your furnace filters MONTHLY)

OK- are the cheap blue filters sufficient? Or do you really need to buy the quilted looking pricer ones?

34saving · #7 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 07:00 AM

The cheap filters are fine for efficiency. If you're concerned about allergies and whatnot then you might want to consider a more expensive one.

gakline · #8 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 07:20 AM

I let the temp rise to about 82 during the day. I will usually leave it at 80 while I'm home, unless I'm doing some work and get hot. At night I drop it to maybe another 1-2 degrees.

I have one of the blue plastic filters. It's reusable, and I just hose it off ever month.

34saving · #9 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 01:53 PM

PrincessPerky -- I just realized something kind of funny . . . you're talking about air conditioning and my Christmas catcus just decided to bloom!

(Up here in MN lately it's been . . .shall we say . . .unseasonably cold.)

PrincessPerky · #10 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 06:03 PM

Heh, sorry 34 saving.

We are hoping to get a reusable filter for ours. Partly cause I hate storing the extra filters.

DeNovi · #11 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 10:31 PM

No You Dont Have To Buy Expensive Ones

Watch For Them To Go On Sale... And Buy Them Then..
We Buy Them In Lots Of 12 One For Each Month.

You Would Be Surprised Of The People Who Dont
Change Their Filters.. Or Dont Even Have Any...

Dont Do That. It Harms The Furnace And All The
Dirt Comes Thru The House Thru The Heat Vents..

Hope It Helps.. Hugzzz, Marie Have Any More ? Just Ask..

Razzy · #12 (**permalink**) 05-18-2005, 05:37 AM

Even though it is 72 degree's outside I have my a/c on, not because I am hot but because the humidity is high and for some reason high humidity sometimes gives me sinus headaches. And the temp outside does not make a difference for my sinus headaches. I woke up this morning and did not have a sinus headache, but as soon as I opened my door and stuck my head outside to check the weather my face started to hurt. Sometimes in the winter I have to put the a/c just for this reason and it can be 30 degrees outside. But on the same token we also use our ceiling fans and regular fans to help keep the house cool. We also use the expensive air filters (I have both allergies and asthma). During the summer the filters are vacuumed once a week and hand washed at least once a season depending how dirty they are. Yes we pay a bit more for them but they filter out more allergens and I think they are worth the money. I also have a few plants because I checked the EPA website (think that was the website) and it had a list of plants that are really good at filtering the air of allergens. No I don't run my a/c 24/7 only when it out or humid outside and yes I do do other things to help keep the a/c bill down.

Razzy

CheaplyClever · #13 (**permalink**) 05-18-2005, 05:52 AM

Thanks for the filter advice. I thought those cheap blue ones were fine. When I insert a new filter I write the date on the cardboard frame. I look at the filter every few weeks but don't always change them monthly.

Mother Nature has cooled the house the past few months. I love the open windows and a little pollen makes me get out the vacuum more often. April's electric bill (1700 sq ft house) was $54.00

Sunday was the first day this year that I have turned on the air. I keep it between 78-80 with ceiling fans also.

kashi · #14 (**permalink**) 05-18-2005, 05:59 AM

Personally, I like to refer to the current MN weather as total crap. I feel like I'm living in monsoon season.

PP, I'm just jealous!

want to switch locales for a while? I don't think I'll see the A/C here until August, if this keeps up.

Razzy · #15 (**permalink**) 05-18-2005, 06:32 AM

On the same topic. When using fans to help your a/c cool the house remember to keep your fans clean whether they be ceiling fans or stationary fans. I have dh take the stationary fans apart and clean them at least once a month (depending on how dirty they are) and clean the ceiling fans. By doing this you make your fans last longer and run better.

Razzy

gakline · #16 (**permalink**) 05-18-2005, 06:36 AM

Yeah, IL is the same way. Rain and cold and crap! I would love to be roasting right now.

PrincessPerky · #17 (**permalink**) 05-18-2005, 10:17 AM

Everytime I get homesick for pgh, my DH takes me home to visit in february, light jackets here in NC (if), and cold or even snow in PA. Terrible weather can't belive I survived to adulthood up there!

Speaking of fans, anyone know what the difference between a 30$ one and a 50$ one is? is there a energy difference to look for or is it all decoration stuff? We want to put one in each of the kids rooms, they get terrible in the summer.

BillsGirl · #18 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 07:42 PM

I would die!! The house here is left on 76 maybe I'll let it go to 77 and at night when i go to bed it's down to 74!! but then I am in florida it's darn hot here!

PrincessPerky · #19 (**permalink**) 05-21-2005, 04:46 AM

hmm how is 80 in the house hotter in florida than 80 in the house in NC? Not trying to pick on you just wondering.

Actually growing up in Pgh is a help with the heat here, Airconditioning and pools were not the norm in pgh, so an 80 degree house was fairly nice (as opposed to the 90 or 100 or so it tended to get in second floors and such)

momma4 · #20 (**permalink**) 05-24-2005, 07:18 PM

it must be our humitity cause even though it says 80 on the news it feels like 100+