What do you have your AC set at?

[KimR]

WOW!!!! Some of you would save some serious money if you would get new AC Units.
Ours is set at 69 all the time and our bill usually runs around $125.

However we got a new system last year....before new system we had it set at 73 and average summer bill ran $250.

The system cost around $2400 - so it has already paid for half it's cost - by next summer it will have paid for itself.

Ours is a new unit. I think part of the problem is that we have a very open floor plan. We don't have any enclosed hallways, and a 2-story foyer with much of the top floor open to the foyer below. I love the openness of it, but I suppose it's not very energy-efficient. Although when we installed the new unit year before last, he did make some changes to the venting system to help with the airflow.

Before we got the new unit, the upstairs wouldn't cool much below 80 at night. I slept downstairs all summer long. I cannot sleep when it's hot.

 

[deegack]

78 during the day 75 at night. We have a small house and an extremely energy efficient unit

 

[The Wise One]

69 or 70 and I have all the ceiling fans running and I still feel hot sometimes.

 

[Princess Dolly]

80 most of the time. Occasionally, we will go crazy and turn it down to 79. Seriously, this is perfectly comfortable to me. We have no problems at all.

Same here. Our current bill is $95.73 thanks to the two-speed energy efficient AC and our variable-speed pool pump. That is also with an electric tankless water heater and two refrigerators.

 

[ohiomom28]

Same here. Our current bill is $95.73 thanks to the two-speed energy efficient AC and our variable-speed pool pump. That is also with an electric tankless water heater and two refrigerators.

Oh yeah, I forgot about our 2nd fridge. Its in the garage and I'm sure runs nonstop in this heat...

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[BlovesC]

74 in the daytime, 70 when we sleep!

 

[SpecialK]

Ours is a new unit. I think part of the problem is that we have a very open floor plan. We don't have any enclosed hallways, and a 2-story foyer with much of the top floor open to the foyer below. I love the openness of it, but I suppose it's not very energy-efficient. Although when we installed the new unit year before last, he did make some changes to the venting system to help with the airflow.

Before we got the new unit, the upstairs wouldn't cool much below 80 at night. I slept downstairs all summer long. I cannot sleep when it's hot.

That two-story foyer is a killer, isn't it? We finally replaced the chandelier in ours with a ceiling fa just to move the dead air up there. It's the only fan we keep on during the day, and it's made a huge difference in the temps upstairs.

We keep our temp at 74 and use the budget plan for our electric bill. Spread over twelve months it's much easier to budget for.

 

[ohiomom28]

That two-story foyer is a killer, isn't it? We finally replaced the chandelier in ours with a ceiling fa just to move the dead air up there. It's the only fan we keep on during the day, and it's made a huge difference in the temps upstairs.

We keep our temp at 74 and use the budget plan for our electric bill. Spread over twelve months it's much easier to budget for.

I was on a budget bill and ended up with a $500 bill at the end of the year because they had us estimated wrong

Posted from DISboards app from Android

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Summer:

74 from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM
72 from 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM
68 from 9:00 PM to 5:30 AM
72 from 5:30 AM to 7:30 AM

 

[lecach]

82 during the day when no one is home
78 at night and on the weekend

 

[Poohforyou]

I would need the be treated for hypothermia if our ac was as low as some of you keep yours. We have ours set at 76 & it's cool in our house. It was built 6 years ago so maybe it's just better insulated & energy efficient.

 

[ORMom2Four]

I am jealous

We don't have a/c, and yesterday the thermostat read 90 degrees in the house

 

[maelstrom]

70 all the time. I don't see a point to using an air conditioner if you're going to keep it on 80.

We have budget billing for electric so it evens out our payments over the year so we don't have $300 electric bills over the summer and $40 bills in the winter (heat, gas, and hot water are included in our rent).

 

[Princess Dolly]

70 all the time. I don't see a point to using an air conditioner if you're going to keep it on 80.

We have budget billing for electric so it evens out our payments over the year so we don't have $300 electric bills over the summer and $40 bills in the winter (heat, gas, and hot water are included in our rent).

I don't see the point in keeping the house cooler than what we are comfortable in. For us, it's not about money, it's about comfort. We can also regulate the humidity through the HVAC system in the house and that makes a huge difference.

 

[mrsv98]

DH is ALWAYS hot and the record breaking heat/drought this year has made it much worse. I could never get the house cool enough for him and our bills were over $300, ouch!

A couple of years ago, I hit on the perfect solution. We bought a small, inexpensive room a/c just for our bedroom. During the day it is set on "energy saver" with the thermostat up fairly high and then before DH gets home I turn it to cool. This has allowed me to raise the main a/c to 75 or 76 and our electric bills have gone donw thank goodness.

We do use fans and keep curtains closed but this summer has been a killer! I find myself longing for a good misty, gray 40 degree day!

 

[Lemurone]

I don't see the point in keeping the house cooler than what we are comfortable in. For us, it's not about money, it's about comfort. We can also regulate the humidity through the HVAC system in the house and that makes a huge difference.

YES! Sometimes I have the AC on just to help with the humidity and it makes a huge difference.

 

[figmentswife]

So after reading how most people have theirs set in the 70's I decided to test it today and see what it felt like..... I set it at 74 this morning just walked in and it wasn't bad in here, until after a few minutes then I realized it felt so good b\c it's over 100 here today. My big thing is night time, I like it cold. Have been considering getting an portable AC unit for our bedroom....thinking I will look into that now.

 

[SnyderD]

We usually have ours set at 77. At night we'll set it for 75 because my wife likes it cooler as well. I think it's kinda silly, I mean 2 degrees...but she swears she can feel a difference. So as long as she's happy, I'm happy! LOL!

 

[hulagirl87]

Ours is set at 75. I stay home with DD every day so I want it to be cool and comfortable for her as well. She takes after DH and gets overheated very easily which can make naps and bedtime a wreck if the air isn't on . We also have ceiling fans in a couple rooms including the bedrooms. That helps a lot.

 

[kinntj]

78 and 76. At night if it's in the low 60's, we'll shut it off and open windows.