How to properly use your AC; save energy on hot days

How to properly use your AC; save energy on hot days
By Andrew Freiden | June 18, 2018 at 1:10 PM EST - Updated August 23 at 5:00 PM
Even though it might feel right to lower the setting on your thermostat on the hottest days, you should do RAISE the temperature inside your house. (Source: FILE PHOTO)
Even though it might feel right to lower the setting on your thermostat on the hottest days, you should do RAISE the temperature inside your house. (Source: FILE PHOTO)

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - Even though it might feel right to lower the setting on your thermostat on the hottest days, you should do RAISE the temperature inside your house.

Here's a look at what you should do:

There's some good give-and-take on this topic on my page - you can check it out HERE.

Here's why you should raise the temperature: Air conditioning units work harder and longer the lower you set them. If you set it too low, it could run non-stop. Some people even set it at their lowest setting thinking, "This will turn the cooling up to HIGH."

This puts lots of stress on the unit and uses lots of electricity - and it doesn't work.

Here's some great advice I found from a Heating and A/C company in Raleigh

There are two problems with putting the thermostat at such a low temperature. The first is that such a cold setting does nothing to make the air conditioning system work harder or faster at delivering cooling. All it does is make the AC's compressor run longer until the thermostat senses the temperature goal has been reached. This wastes power and ends up with a house that's too cold to be comfortable.

My advice: The higher you can handle, the better. If you don't want to listen to me: The U.S. Department of Energy has some good guidelines for energy-conserving thermostat settings. 

There's a bigger issue as well. The hottest days of the year are the days with the biggest electricity consumption of the year. If we all use a little less, it causes less strain on the power grid - which is good for all kinds of reasons!

Stay Cool!