For those w/ air conditioning...

[Lachesis00]

Our a/c has a fan on/in it (if you turn it on, it runs all the time). I notice IF we do this the house stays MUCH cooler... however will this have a huge impact on my electic bill? Like is it "as bad" as having the a/c on?? I know it will affect the power bill some, but how badly?

It's still in the upper 90's and the big fan works much better along side a couple little fans vs not having it run.

My light bill has been running over $200 and I am trying to lower it if even just a bit. I know it's from having the a/c on.


Secondly....
I have a little thermometer that has always been "correct". Sometimes it will be blazing hot in here and it will say between 80-85 degrees. However the a/c is set to kick on once it hits 77-78... and yet it doesn't. The little themometer on the a/c unit will say it's like 72-74 which I *know* it isn't. So of course I turn the a/c on b/c we're dying in here.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Wow, that must be a big change from Alaska!

I'm not an expert, but I wonder if your AC is broken? Can someone check it for you?

 

[Lachesis00]

It does work it just seems like it either isn't registering right or something.

Sometimes it kicks on when it should and other times it's stiffling hot in here and you have to set it to 74-75 to get it to kick on. I can't tell if it is me (my body temp runs 2-3 degrees higher then most people which is normal for me) or if there is indeed a problem.
It's funny at my friend's place she keeps hers around 80-81 and we feel fine there... not hot at all. In fact almost cool. Here once it goes over 80 it's stiffling.

If you set it to 77 shouldn't it always feel 77 within a degree or two? Sometimes I set it to kick on around 80 and we feel fine. Other times we set it to kick on at 76-77 and it isn't until it kicks on (which wouldn't it hit 77-78 to kick on?) we're dying. LOL

I am just asking just incase. Being from Alaska and never having a/c I don't know about these things

 

[Kimnicki]

Wow! I'm sure glad I don't live in your house! My house is always set at a constant 69 degrees all year. Of course unless it's really nice outside (like it is lately) and we have the windows open. The warmest I can let it get, and still be comfortable, is about 75.

As far as your fan question, I believe, and if someone knows better please correct me, that if you let just the "fan" run with the a/c set to "off" you would actually use a little less electricity. But of course it would actually depend on how long you run the fan. When you have the a/c button set to "on" and it turns on, it uses the fan to blow the cold air through the house. When the button is set to "off" your just circulating the air through out your house. I would think it takes more electricity to run the a/c plus the fan. Hope I didn't confuse you!

Kim

 

[NMAmy]

Rachel--do you have a swamp cooler or do you have central air?

 

[Lachesis00]

I am gonna say central air. We live in an apt....

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If the fan is "on" the a/c won't kick on.

It is probably freezing up at the unit. You really need to have it looked at because that will run your bill higher with an improperly working unit.

 

[NMAmy]

I lived in an apartment before that had evaporative coolers (swamp coolers) as well as my house. The reason I ask is that they don't work well unless you crack the windows. Which is contrary to everything I had ever known about a/c. That's why I wondered, since I'm guessing swamp coolers are as prevalent in AZ as they are in NM. You might ask your landlord.

 

[Lachesis00]

Stupid question but how do you tell what you have? My friend who lives here said it is an a/c unit.

I went and turned off the a/c, but left the fan on. I am going to see how warm it gets in here.

 

[decker96]

I don't know about the "swamp cooler" thing, but if you have an actual unit that you turn on that's on the wall or in the window, you don't have central air. I think most apartment buildings have individual units in each apartment.

 

[Lachesis00]

Yes there is a switch on the wall.... We can turn on cold or hot air (or nothing). The other switch turns the fan on or off.

And a "thing" above the laundry room LOL. Like a trap door looking thing.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Originally posted by Lachesis00

I went and turned off the a/c, but left the fan on. I am going to see how warm it gets in here.

This is what may freeze up your unit. Letting it get too hot and then turning it on so the unit has to run continously to cool your place down.

 

[trola2]

The trap door looking thing is probably the return air vent. If it is there should be a FILTER in there. Do you rent? You should ask your landlord about that and if there is a filter, if they replace it, or if you replace it, they can be replaced with disposable filters every month and that alone will save you some $$. Easy way to remember is when you get your electric bil, change the filter. IF where you are living is very dusty (not a reflection on you, but your geographical area or if you have pets) you might change it twice a month. Spending the $1.50 on a filter can really cut your bill.

Plus if the thermostat isn't registering the correct temp, you might ask that it be checked. Thermostats do sometimes need to be replaced. If you own, and are not renting, check into a programmable thermostat that you can vary the temps at different times of the day....

Bumping up the temp to just a couple degrees higher can also save you some money.

Good luck!
~~Beth

 

[Lachesis00]

OK I went and turned the a/c back on... Maybe I will have to suck it up and pay the high electrical bills :/

 

[Dan Murphy]

Is this a window unit??