Air conditioners are usually the dominant energy consumers in the Yuma area. For that reason, people may want to turn off AC systems when leaving home to cut down on electricity costs. That might seem like an excellent idea, but is it really? Let’s explore the upsides and downsides of turning off your AC unit when going away from home.
Advantages When You Turn Off AC
If your AC unit is off while you’re away from home, it runs less overall than when you leave it on throughout the day. Consequently, you save more money on energy costs.
When you leave your air conditioner running all day, it cycles on and off to maintain cool temperatures. The unit is more likely to break down when turning on or shutting off due to the many small parts that are made to suddenly move or halt. By your system running less due to it being off when you’re away, it experiences less wear and tear.
Disadvantages When You Turn Off AC
Turning off your air conditioner poses several risks:
- Uncomfortable house. In Southwest Arizona, turning off your air conditioner means returning from your vacation or a day at work to an uncomfortably hot home. Getting your home back to a cool and comfortable temperature could take several hours.
- High humidity. Your air conditioner also removes humidity from your home’s air. Leaving the unit off could result in extreme humidity in your house, leading to problems like mold growth, warped wood, and peeling paint.
- Danger to living beings. Long periods of high indoor temperatures resulting from shutting your air conditioner off can harm your pets and houseplants.
- Damaged appliances. High temperatures can damage television sets, computers, and other appliances.
What’s the Solution?
Fortunately, you can still save money while keeping your home safe by turning up your thermostat to anywhere between 75 and 85 degrees when leaving for work or a vacation. That allows your air conditioner to run less frequently while keeping extreme humidity and temperatures at bay.
The problems caused when homeowners turn off AC units when going away from their homes are likely to cost more than the energy savings achieved. For the best cooling solutions in the Yuma area, don’t hesitate to contact us at Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company.
