AC on all the time or only when needed? | ExpatWoman.com
 

AC on all the time or only when needed?

1052
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 07 April 2012 - 12:31

I am just wondering if its better (cost wise) to leave AC on a temp of 24 all the time during summer or is it better to only switch it on when needed?

Someone told me that the biggest cost are when you switch it on and the excess work the ac does to cool it down? A bit like water heater leave it on all the time?

Im confused have had seriously large AC bills and really need to cut them down this summer :(

271
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 April 2012 - 17:34
It's only this time of the year that we start to use our AC again...we find the winter months... no need to...except if apptmnt has a stuffy smell...like my friend...she needs ac ON right through the year! Expensive!
184
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 April 2012 - 17:15
Egg - A/C is for air conditioning. i think you have found your problem. If your maid is running the A/C to 18c all day that will be costing you a fortune:(
1247
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 07 April 2012 - 17:06
I think living here you just need to get used to the fact that bills will be higher in summer, but there is lots you can do to help. While we sleep with AC on 23, in the morning I turn one to 24 and leave on auto, the other upstairs one I turn off, then I close the door to the guestroom. (who cares if its hot in there if we arent using it? I open that door at night again when the AC is on). Downstairs is off at night and we only turn it on as we go down in the morning, the kitchen one is a split unit and I turn it on for a 1hr cycle only (to help cool everything down) then the living area one which will stay on until we go to bed, I keep it on 24 most of the day but if its not to bad I may turn it off for a bit in the afternoon or to 25. We only water plants very very late at night or very early in the morning, you wont need as much then. Not sure if you have a helper but make sure she is not flushing toilets when they haven't been used, running taps for a long time when cleaning, not hosing the ground outside etc. Our helper used to flush each toilet (we have 5) 2-3 times every time she cleaned them, thats a lot of water, and also electricity as the booster pump kicks in every time you use water in a villa. I have a window that gets a lot of afternoon sun, closing the curtain helps to keep some of that heat out as well. Good luck :) Thank you, yes i have a housemaid and im at work all day i keep telling her to switch off AC if she is not using it i keep coming home (even in winter) to ac on 18 on the kitchen when no one is in there, i will have another word with her! Thank you Egg tell her that if the AC goes lower then 24 when you are not home she will be responsible for paying the next bill. Also SHOW her a bill so she understands water / electricity etc is not free! My ex Philipina maid was with a family a long time before us, yet she had no idea we PAID for water, after all, 'maaaam, maid next door hoses the driveway everyday'.
1052
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 07 April 2012 - 15:46
I think living here you just need to get used to the fact that bills will be higher in summer, but there is lots you can do to help. While we sleep with AC on 23, in the morning I turn one to 24 and leave on auto, the other upstairs one I turn off, then I close the door to the guestroom. (who cares if its hot in there if we arent using it? I open that door at night again when the AC is on). Downstairs is off at night and we only turn it on as we go down in the morning, the kitchen one is a split unit and I turn it on for a 1hr cycle only (to help cool everything down) then the living area one which will stay on until we go to bed, I keep it on 24 most of the day but if its not to bad I may turn it off for a bit in the afternoon or to 25. We only water plants very very late at night or very early in the morning, you wont need as much then. Not sure if you have a helper but make sure she is not flushing toilets when they haven't been used, running taps for a long time when cleaning, not hosing the ground outside etc. Our helper used to flush each toilet (we have 5) 2-3 times every time she cleaned them, thats a lot of water, and also electricity as the booster pump kicks in every time you use water in a villa. I have a window that gets a lot of afternoon sun, closing the curtain helps to keep some of that heat out as well. Good luck :) Thank you, yes i have a housemaid and im at work all day i keep telling her to switch off AC if she is not using it i keep coming home (even in winter) to ac on 18 on the kitchen when no one is in there, i will have another word with her! Thank you Egg
1247
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 07 April 2012 - 14:41
I think living here you just need to get used to the fact that bills will be higher in summer, but there is lots you can do to help. While we sleep with AC on 23, in the morning I turn one to 24 and leave on auto, the other upstairs one I turn off, then I close the door to the guestroom. (who cares if its hot in there if we arent using it? I open that door at night again when the AC is on). Downstairs is off at night and we only turn it on as we go down in the morning, the kitchen one is a split unit and I turn it on for a 1hr cycle only (to help cool everything down) then the living area one which will stay on until we go to bed, I keep it on 24 most of the day but if its not to bad I may turn it off for a bit in the afternoon or to 25. We only water plants very very late at night or very early in the morning, you wont need as much then. Not sure if you have a helper but make sure she is not flushing toilets when they haven't been used, running taps for a long time when cleaning, not hosing the ground outside etc. Our helper used to flush each toilet (we have 5) 2-3 times every time she cleaned them, thats a lot of water, and also electricity as the booster pump kicks in every time you use water in a villa. I have a window that gets a lot of afternoon sun, closing the curtain helps to keep some of that heat out as well. Good luck :)
1052
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 07 April 2012 - 14:33
Thanks, i dont know what AC it is Lol. I just know that the bills in summer are over AED 2000 every month and thats without the DEWA which is another 2000 AED, its madness :( Thanks Egg
184
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 April 2012 - 14:13
I think it depends if your A/C is an inverter A/C. If it is they say to leave on all day. We haven't moved to Dubai yet but here in Perth I have it on 26c on hot days. For every degree you raise the temp of your A/C you save 10%. So at 26c we save 20%. We also only use the fans at night here. And I too only have the rooms I am using on the A/C. so most rooms are off all day. I just cool the bedrooms down before bedtime.
1052
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 07 April 2012 - 13:20
Thanks Ladies, Seriously hoping to reduce these bills. Thanks for the advice. Egg
1022
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 07 April 2012 - 12:51
Definately leave your water heaters on all the time. With the A/C only switch on when needed for sure!! Leave the controller on at 24 degrees on an auto setting ;)
 
 

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