Running your air conditioner longer than necessary can be a costly mistake. AC units are actually designed to use less power when they are in a cooler state rather than when they’re turned on and running at full capacity. Because they’re designed to cool only when necessary, running your AC all day will only run your bills in electricity and maintenance.
Continue reading to learn how long you should leave your air conditioning unit on each day.
How Long Should Your AC Run For in A Day?
An air conditioner unit can easily consume more than 3,000 watts of electricity in a single hour when it is being used at full power. This is more than the average home’s total electricity consumption in a day. This is why it’s so important that your AC unit isn’t used too much during the day. An air conditioner cools a space in a 15 to 20 minutes cycle, so it makes sense to keep it off for a few hours or until you start to notice that your rooms are getting too hot.
However, there are also other factors that you should consider when it comes to how long to keep your AC unit on.
Factors Affecting AC Usage
The Size of the Unit
If your AC unit has shorter cycles and turns off more than five times in an hour, it’s likely that the unit is too large for the space that you need to cool. In this case, you should replace it with a smaller unit that will conserve more energy and still get the job done.
But if the unit is undersized for your space, it won’t be able to fully cool the room during hot spells. This would inevitably require you to keep it running for longer.
Weather Conditions
The weather condition also plays a deciding factor in your air conditioner usage. If the temperature outside is extremely hot or the air is extremely humid, you’ll need to keep your AC unit on for longer periods. This will allow the unit to function properly and keep your home cool and comfortable throughout the day.
Insulation Quality
Airtightness and insulation levels play a big role in how efficient your AC unit is. The more airtight your home is, the less energy your AC unit will have to use to cool it down. Likewise, if your home has good insulation, you won’t need to use your AC unit as much because it will keep the warm air out and prevent hot air from coming in through the windows.
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At Infinity Air LLC, we offer a wide range of services, including commercial HVAC repair, furnace repair, AC maintenance, and much more!
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