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Most efficient way to run the house AC?
Topic Started: May 29 2015, 03:24 PM (782 Views)
cwatkin


I have always been curious. I run two very large window AC units at my place. There are times when it is so hot that I MUST run both but many times I can cool with only one.

I was curious if it is more efficient to run one for longer periods during these times or if I am better off running two. Also, I try to alternate between the two if I only run one to level out the wear and tear between the two. So I may run one for a day, and then the other one the next.

Anyone have opinions on this? Is the difference between running one and two pretty small so it doesn't matter? Just wondering.

Conor
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banginmetro64
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running two at the same time will cool faster but will draw more current/power. running at different intervals would help for the life of the units but you may have to run them at full blast to cool off quickly. one would think running both at low levels should pull less power and be more efficient. i could be totally wrong though.
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Car Nut
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I think you should set one on a comfortable temp & let it run continually. I think it would use less power maintaining the cool temp instead of trying to cool down the furnace then shutting it off & on.
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dayle1960
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Fastest Hampster EVER

Any way you can put more insulation in the attic? I had maybe 4" of blown in insulation in my attic and my heat pump continually ran. When I added 24" of insulation, my heat pump began cycling on and off. My whole house has been comfortable, even on hot days.

Go to lowes, purchase 20 bags of blow in insulation, get the blower machine rental for free, and when you are done and have any full bags left over take it back to lowes for a refund. It will save you money in the long run.
Edited by dayle1960, May 29 2015, 03:55 PM.
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Spud
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Start herethen work your way to here and then move your AC units to the East or North walls preferred North side of house. If all fails try this :thumb
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rmcelwee
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It is hot and messy but extra insulation is always good. This was me blowing the shredded newspaper (looks like dirty wool) type insulation for the workshop. It was the best thing I ever did for the shop:

Posted Image
Edited by rmcelwee, May 29 2015, 05:12 PM.
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Ephemeral Glade
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Maybe using some fans to keep the air from stratifying would help. Here is an interesting article about fans.

http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2014/09/circulating-fans-air-conditioning.html
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Bjetmech
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A/C in a house? What's that? :P
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ZXTjato
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bass heads

Bjetmech
May 29 2015, 11:39 PM
A/C in a house? What's that? :P
got 3 at the place i live, 2 roof ones and one in the garage :smackface
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Bjetmech
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ZXTjato
May 29 2015, 11:50 PM
Bjetmech
May 29 2015, 11:39 PM
A/C in a house? What's that? :P
got 3 at the place i live, 2 roof ones and one in the garage :smackface
Got a box fan for when to temp creeps above 80. :rocker
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Good bye


Study your power bill, there may be a charge for peak use. So many kWh at one rate then the rate jumps for the next group. If you can stay at the lower rate your bill really can go down a lot. It only gets hot enough for house a/c here for a couple weeks each summer. Now if you want to talk about rain that's another subject. We heat the main house with wood.
Edited by Good bye, May 30 2015, 12:01 AM.
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Spud
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Bjetmech
May 29 2015, 11:52 PM
ZXTjato
May 29 2015, 11:50 PM
Bjetmech
May 29 2015, 11:39 PM
A/C in a house? What's that? :P
got 3 at the place i live, 2 roof ones and one in the garage :smackface
Got a box fan for when to temp creeps above 80. :rocker
:+1 Same here though in day time around August I have to since no insulation I have to turn AC. This tin can gets warm :bananaburn
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perfesser
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Elite Member - Former Metro owner

When we bought this old house, I installed ceiling fans in every room. They run all summer on the low setting, and the air moving around like that has greatly reduced the need to run window AC units.

This year I'm replacing all of our old mid-60s single pane aluminum framed windows. In the winter, they reduce the wind speed somewhat, but we can still watch the curtains moving in the drafts. In the summer, those metal frames draw the heat into the house. It's sure gonna be nice to have some Energy Star double-pane argon filled windows protecting us this summer!! The increased insulation values will cut our energy bills at least in half, maybe more, in the summer and in the winter, too! (I'm also installing a ductless central AC system so I can get rid of those ugly window units. They're on their last legs, anyway, so no loss there!)
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