What is cheaper? - Turning off the A/C (air conditioner) or setting it to a higher temperature while gone?

When no one is at home, I set the a/c to "off" and then it turns on about 30-45 minutes before I get home (programmable thermostat). Alternatively, I could set the thermostat to a higher temperature during the day, but I don't want it to run all day even if it is at a higher temperature. However, by turning it off all day, will the a/c consume just as much power when it comes on in the evening to get things cool again? I live in Texas, so summers get really hot! I'm also out of the house for around 10-12 hours during the week. Any advice? Does the opposite hold true in winter???

What is cheaper? - Turning off the A/C (air conditioner) or setting it to a higher temperature while gone?
It is better for you to have it off during the day and come on a short time before you get home. It is harder for your a/c to cycle on and off all day keeping it at 80 something, than to run for 30 min to and hour straight. The same is true with your heater in the winter. The total amount of time the a/c runs is less so it costs less. Use your programmable thermostat how it was designed, don't heat or cool and empty house.
Reply:Unless you have an A/C that is over 15 years old, you should turn it off every time you are gone for more than half an hour. An A/C in good condition should cool off a house in about an hour. A/Cs over 15 years old may not be very efficient and should be turned off.





Leaving the A/C running the whole day only costs you money. Keep in mind that if you have pets, you might consider some sort of way for them to cool off.





If your A/C has a fan only feature, Have it come on after the sun is strongest, so that it will circulate fresh air in the house, and then have the A/C come on 30-45 minutes before you come home.





The same applies for winter except for the fan. There is no need to heat the house if you are not in it.





You'll see a big difference in your utility bill.





Good luck.
Reply:I am also a Texan, so I know how hot summers get. Personally, and I have no firm data to back this up, I leave the thermostat at a higher temperature (usually around 80 degrees during the day) to preserve a moderate level of coolness in the house. I usually run my thermostat at about 70 degrees while I am at home. When I leave for several days, I elevate the temp. to about 85. My bills have been more reasonable running like this rather than shutting it off when I am gone. In winter, I turn the thermostat down to 60 degrees when I leave and then run it at about 68-70 when I get home. Our winters have been pretty mild lately.
Reply:I would raise the temperature when absent. It'll keep the humidity down.





But this isn't easy to provide an all knowing answer. If you have excellent insulation and a pretty tight seal, you could probably save more by shutting it off. But if your home is average, you are just going to have to suck the heat out of the walls, ceilings and furniture if you don't keep some kind of minimal cooling going.





And yes, opposite for winter. Plus in winter you might not want it completely off if your pipes could freeze.





Another aspect is comfort, perhaps more so with heat. Yes, your could drop it down to 55 F when gone. With forced air the room air will heat up quickly. Then the thermostat kicks off. But in mere minutes the cold walls suck in that heat and you will feel chilly. Then the heater kicks on again. In my small office building it takes about an hour for the walls/furniture and floor to reach ambient and for me to feel "comfortable" during the periods the heater is not running.
Reply:I have mine turned down during the day and and night when we are sleeping heat wise and it saves money. but for the A/C i didn't see much change either way in my bill by turning it up as to turning it off so do what you will i leave mine to when its about 75 during the day when no one is home and 68-70 when we are home.
Reply:I was told by the electric company to conserve engery turn off all appliances while your gone. If you can set them to come on like your air conditioner before you get home, do that to cool it down. We have central air so it maintains the houses temp. I do keep it warmed in the daytime since we are not here but at 5pm it starts to cool down. In the winter we alway keep the house cooler than in the evening. The thermostate is programmed at 7am to go to 63 degrees. In the evening at 5pm it goes up to 68.
Reply:I would turn it up. Due to the fact you live in TX. IT will help keep the humidity down. My brother used to turn his off, it got old coming home with kids to a hot house in the Summer time.
Reply:Set your a/c to a higher temp. it will use more energy and is harder on the a/c when it has to kick on and off all the time.
Reply:Set it at a higher temp when you are not home so that the a/c can maintain a comfortable temp and so it won't have to work so hard to drop the temp when you get home. starting a/c equipment when your house is hot creates a big load for it, causing it to consume more energy and possibley more wear and tear in the long run.
Reply:Its cheaper to set it at a higher temp. Talk to your local power company about other energy saving tips.

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