Home AC question

[marlbank]

I have a question about changing temperature setting on AC when we go out of town.  This past weekend I increased the temp from 78 to 84, once we returned it took almost 12hrs to come back down to 78.  So my question is, did I truly save energy by increasing the temp while we were gone or wasted it because my unit ran almost continuously once we returned.  I understand the temps this weekend were extraordinary, but I was wondering is it worth it for our next weekend away.  Thanks for any input anyone has.

[bcrewcaptain]

I have a question about changing temperature setting on AC when we go out of town.  This past weekend I increased the temp from 78 to 84, once we returned it took almost 12hrs to come back down to 78.  So my question is, did I truly save energy by increasing the temp while we were gone or wasted it because my unit ran almost continuously once we returned.  I understand the temps this weekend were extraordinary, but I was wondering is it worth it for our next weekend away.  Thanks for any input anyone has.

long and short=no

we went thru this over the 4th of july ourselves...
we usually keep it at 74in the house, somebody decided to kick i up to 82 while we were gone...poor heat pump wasn't happy and it took over a day to get it back down to a normal temp. My boss does the same thing here at work and it kills me...it's 80 when I get here and doesn't get to normal temps til around noontime...keep it at your normal temp and it'll loaf along all day and maintain the temp vs trying to drop it 10* when its 100 out.
My system was struggling this weekend anyway once it broke 100, if (she) had crank the temp up, I would have been staying in the camper

[potstech]

Every AC guy I have talked to about this has told me to set your AC temperature and leave it at all times.  It is more of a strain on the system to play catch up than than to just let it run at a set rate.  Think of this one.  If you turn a light bulb off and on many times a day it will wear out faster than if you just leave it on 24/7.  That is how they tell figure the life of a bulb.  they leave it on and measure the wear on it.  I have had to repair my AC twice in 25 years as I set the temperature and leave it no matter what I am doing. Just my opinion on this one so each to his own.

[rzinnfamily]

i only tune up the setting if im going to be gone for more then 3 days    otherwies leave it alone     no more than 3-5 degree setbact at night   or during the day   

for a heat pump this is more inporantenct  in heat mode      if the thermostate needs to make up more than 2 degrease  the electric heat setips will kick in     this alos depends on how mondern you thermostate is    most electronic thermostates with a energy star rateing  will try to limit the 2nd stage heat   and rember how long it tuck to heat up from cycle to cyc;e and adjust start up time to make set point at a given time

last thing   most ac - heatpump are desinged for 90 outside temp    when its 100 your out of btus to cool the house

robert     havc tech

last things    ever wander way they call cooling sizeing  ton.......   well  its the equivent anount you ice you would need to cool for 24 hours.    comes from the  old old days when  trains used ice to cool box cars .      thats way most citys has ice houses    for the railroad and the ice box in a home

[hvac1877]

no more than a 3 degree change in your setpoint. In Richmond the design temp is 93 for ac. So if it is above 93 your ac is to small to cool the" Load(your house)"  and will run longer to cool. People think if you turn the thermostat lower it will cool faster and it wont!!!!!! Just leave it alone and it will cool. It was 106 at my home and my up stairs unit did not keep up even setting it at 73 and took forever to cool down. Make sure you all have your ac system checked out a simple pm can save you lots of money!!!!!!! If not you will being paying one of us guys to fix it and it will cost alot more  than a tune-up.

[marlbank]

Thanks for the info!  I will just keep it set.  BTW, I have a gas furnace and a seperate AC unit if that matters.  My thermostat is the old type that you turn the round dial on.  Have the newer programmable one, but DH hasn't seen fit to put it up.  I have no problems changing the temps with my gas furnace, 1 cycle and the house goes from 50 degrees to 68.  This is the first time in this house with the temps so high, so in the past I haven't had any problems with changing the temps when I leave.  This weekend I will leave well enough alone.  Thanks!

[rzinnfamily]

might also b time to have you ac checked/cleaned

[Two4TheRoad]

Better to leave it 2 or 3 degrees above your norm. Also keep your filter clean and DO NOT close off vents in room you are not using much. It decreases the efficiency of the unit.