Air conditioners consume a lot of energy. It’s no wonder why many households consider turning off the unit when they leave home. It’s a common misconception that turning off the AC saves money and energy. In reality, it costs more money, uses more energy, and brings a plethora of potential problems your way.
Hot, Humid Homes Cause the AC to Work Harder
Firstly, turning off the AC means you come home to a HOT, humid house. The AC cools the home down but it has a secondary job of removing humidity from the air. When the AC is turned off, humidity lingers in the air. It will take time for the AC to recool the home to appropriate temperatures, during which time you and everyone in the home swelters from the sticky heat that feels much hotter due to the built-up humidity. Temperatures outside are just as hot as inside, so there is no relief in sight until the AC has time to cool down the home again.
That can take some time. When the AC is turned off, it needs longer cycling periods to reach optimal temperatures in the house. This means your AC uses more energy and ultimately, more money to recool the home than what you would spend if the unit is left running while you are gone.
Protect the Houseplants
Do houseplants decorate your space? If so, turning off the air conditioning while you are gone is a big mistake that can have detrimental effects on all living things in your house, especially houseplants that cannot handle the heat and humidity.
Do not believe the common myth that turning off the AC when you leave the house saves money. The truth is, turning off the AC likely costs far more money than you could imagine and causes a plethora of problems like those we discussed above.
Need more AC help? We are standing by to assist you.
Rice Heating and Air are a full-service HVAC Contractor headquartered in Alma, AR. The company specializes in air conditioning repair, AC installations, indoor air quality systems, heating repair, and furnace installations. Rice Heating and Air are focused on helping homeowners and businesses stay comfortable year-round. We are your comfort experts.
Call us today for any of your heating and cooling needs.
