As a rule, air conditioning units have to work longer in order to efficiently cool a house, especially if it’s excessively hot. Some homeowners make the mistake of turning their AC units off when they’re away and then expect the units to perform as well as before when they come back home. The truth is, when you turn off the AC, indoor temperatures will continue to rise. By the time you get home, your air conditioner will actually be consuming more energy in an effort to cool down your intensely hot rooms, causing your utility bills to skyrocket. If not corrected, this practice can even lead to unit failure or untimely calls to air conditioning companies for repair.
The most effective way to control your AC unit’s energy consumption, particularly when you’re out of the house, is to get a programmable thermostat. This is a type of thermostat designed to automatically adjust the indoor temperature according to a series of programmed settings. This can take effect at different hours of the day.
Programmable thermostats have a feature called recovery mode. This allows your thermostat to learn how long it takes for your HVAC system to adjust the temperature in your home so that it aligns with the settings you previously programmed. Don’t worry, trusted furnace companies will instruct on you how to efficiently operate this device.
For example, during cooling months, you can set the programmable thermostat to allow the indoor temperature to rise during work hours when no one is at home. It may then be set to turn on the air conditioner just before you come back. By that time, your house will already be cool.
The thermostat optimizes energy usage by turning your AC system on for the minimum amount of time it takes to cool down your home. That’s when “recovery mode” will appear on your thermostat — to signify that your unit is recovering from being turned off.
Whether you need help with your HVAC system or finding the best local electric panel companies, turn to All Seasons. We have a dedicated team of technicians who are more than ready to help you. Give us a call at (253) 879-9144 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We service residents in and around Tacoma, WA.
