As temperatures climb into the triple digits this week, more people may be looking to their air conditioners for relief. With that in mind, CPS Energy is cautioning consumers about the potential problems of putting too much strain on home air-conditioning systems.
CPS Energy’s Albert Cantu says many people don’t know that their home air conditioner is only designed to produce air that’s 20 degrees cooler than the outside temperature.
Cantu says, “If it’s 100 degrees outside, the best that your air conditioner can give you on the inside of the home is 80 degrees. If you turn it down any further than that, you could be looking at a seven to ten percent increase on your energy bill for every degree less than about 78.”
Cantu says H-VAC systems can be damaged by setting them too low during hot temperatures.
He adds that instead of turning the A/C system off, customers should turn the thermostat up by just a few degrees when leaving the house so that the house cools down more easily when the resident returns home.
Cantu also recommends using ceiling fans when inside the house. He says they don’t make the air cooler, but the breeze can make the resident feel cooler.
