If you live in a hot climate, you generally know that more air conditioning is a good thing. However, you might have doubts about leaving the AC on during the day. For 2020 and beyond, let us take a very close look at whether or not you should leave the AC on during the day when you’re out.
The Risks of an Unmonitored AC
To start things off, leaving the AC on when you’re not at home means that the appliance is unmonitored. This is not good for a number of reasons. First, you simply can’t control it unless you are using some sort of remote device. The outside temperature can fluctuate greatly as the sun rises in the morning, and you won’t be able to keep up with these changes throughout the day.
Also, if the unit overheats, there will be nobody to take care of the subsequent emergency. While the vast majority of units have protection against overheating, there’s always a chance that something could go wrong. Coming home to a property in flames would be a catastrophe. It’s generally a good idea to monitor these major appliances that consume so much electricity. Think of it like a hot stove when you’re cooking. While you might not be in the kitchen at all times, you want to be able to check in on it regularly.
High Costs
Next, leaving your AC on all day is extremely costly. Maybe you’re used to using your AC for three hours every evening before you go to sleep. If you leave the unit on for an additional nine hours while you are at work, that’s a significant increase to the energy consumption. You might be in for an unpleasant surprise when your electric bill arrives at the end of the month.
To minimize costs, turn off your AC when you are out during the day. You’ll save money that can be used toward other things. In addition, electric costs can sometimes be outrageous depending on the time of the day. Your county might have a unique set of guidelines regarding energy cost fluctuations. In the worst case scenario, your AC could be costing four or five times as much as normal when you leave it on during the day. The price of utilities is not uniform, and you should keep an eye out for these changing costs.
No Benefits
Next, there’s little to no benefit to leaving the AC on when you’re out. That doesn’t make sense from a fundamental standpoint. If you or your loved ones are home, by all means turn the AC on for comfort. However, there is no reason to cool off the wood of your dining room table and other inanimate objects.
It’s true that when you were to return, you would immediately be able to relax in the cool climate of your living room. However, the latest AC models are capable of cooling down spaces within minutes. With state of the art technology, you no longer have to wait for hours for things to cool off. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to come home and then turn on the AC.
A Shorter Lifespan
Last but not least, leaving your AC on all the time leads to a shorter lifespan. As well made as AC units are, they only have a certain number of minutes in their lifespans. This number is quite high, but there’s really no reason to race towards the finish line.
By turning your AC off, you’ll be able to enjoy more cooling in the future and avoid purchasing a costly new system. In general, when you leave the AC on for more than an hour at a time, the engine reaches maximum capacity and doesn’t achieve anything extra. This is why short spurts of purposeful cooling can often be just as effective as hours of redundant cooling.
Contact Professional Services
When all is said and done, you probably shouldn’t leave the AC on during the day when you’re out. There are minimal benefits and major drawbacks. A professional service such as Wingate Heating, Cooling & Plumbing in Cincinnati, OH, will maximize your AC usage when it is indeed on. We’re also proficient in heating installation, duct cleaning maintenance. Do not hesitate to send us an email or give us a call today for any of the above!