Should I Turn Off My AC When I’m Not Home on Long Island?
Should I Turn Off My AC When I’m Not Home on Long Island?
You could turn off your Long Island air conditioner when you’re away for several hours, but it’s usually more efficient to raise the temperature on the thermostat instead.
In summer, air conditioners use more energy when they’re first turned on. It takes long cooling cycles (or high variable compressor loads) to bring indoor temperatures down to a comfortable range of 70°F to 77°F. If you leave your home and turn your system off, your system will use a massive amount of energy to cool the interior once you get back.
Raising the temperature when you’re not home means your system is still running, but the cooling cycles or compressor loads will use much less energy.
It sounds counterintuitive, but it’s the best way to reduce your total energy consumption.
Adjusting the Thermostat vs. Full Shutdown
Instead of turning off your AC, raising the thermostat by a few degrees will reduce energy usage with a minimal impact on comfort.
Compare what happens with a full air conditioner shutdown vs. raising your thermostat when you aren’t home:
|
Turning off Your Air Conditioner |
Raising the Thermostat |
|
No energy consumption while you aren’t home. |
Minimal energy consumption when you aren’t home. |
|
Massive energy consumption when you turn the system back on. |
Minimal energy consumption when you drop the temperature again. |
|
High compressor loads with more wear and tear. |
Minimal pressure on the compressor for less wear and tear. |
|
No humidity management, potential musty odors or damage to furniture and electronics. |
Consistent humidity management to protect your home and everything inside it. |
The Alternative: Installing a Smart Thermostat
Traditionally, you would have to manage your thermostat manually or program it and hope it retains its settings for time-based adjustments. Today, you have the option of installing a smart thermostat in Suffolk County.
You get more control over home comfort with a smart thermostat, and the right model can even improve efficiency.
- Smart thermostat models like the Lennox® L40 can react to your lifestyle. The system will automatically adjust its settings for efficiency and comfort.
- The unit can sense when you aren’t home. It can also sense when you’re approaching your home, and adjust the settings for maximum comfort.
- Smart thermostats use geofencing to detect your location.
- You can control your system from anywhere using a convenient smartphone app.
- Models like the Lennox® L40 can integrate with Matter-certified smart home devices like Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Nest.
Alternatively, if it’s time to replace your mini-split air conditioners in Suffolk County, many modern systems have smart features built in. Reliable brands include standard features like automatic temperature control, remote app access, and home automation integration.
Talk to an HVAC Contractor Near You for Better Summer Cooling Solutions
Completely shutting your unit down is only advisable if you will be away from home for days at a time. For regular use, it’s better to raise the temperature by a few degrees to reduce energy consumption. Modern air conditioners and smart thermostats offer better control with AI-driven features to automatically balance comfort and efficiency.
Are you unhappy with the way your current system works? If you want something that’s easier to use, you can talk to the team at Soundview HVAC. We can plan your AC replacement or install a smart thermostat to get the most out of your existing system.
Call us at 631-209-1744 for any of your home comfort needs, including AC tune-ups to prepare your system for Long Island’s summer.
