I need central AC help

[JPMNICK]

So i moved to a new place, and I have central air for the 1st time in my life.

I miss window AC's so much, but that is another topic.

I get my 1st electric bill, 250 bucks. and this is not a mansion, it is a 1000 sq ft apartment.

What can I do to keep this down, it is all AC because i never leave on lights, and i only have a laptop in there, and barely watch TV.

I keep it on 74 at night and 78 during the day. and i fucking hate how hot it is in there all the time. i am melting.

Is there maybe a dirty filter? any one else have bills this high? i am going out of my mind

[Judge Smails]

Sorry, but you'll get no sympathy from me. I just got my bill and it's $506.00. Fuck PSE&G. It's up considerably from this time last year. Energy/oil costs I guess though I suspect its more gouging on there part . You're doing the right thing turning it up. Of course my wife has it set at a constant 73 from May to September. It's fucking FREEZING in my house! Then she'll have the kids wear winter pajamas to sleep because, afterall, she doesn't want them to be cold during the night!

[drjoek]

Seems like an odd time to post this now that its a perfect 55 at night and a perfect 75 during the day. This weather is ideal night and day
Try shutting it off and opening the windows.

Boy this sound kind of bitchy of me. Its not meant to be. I have central air in my house and only use it a few real muggy days in the summer otherwise its God air conditioner for.

[Furtherman]

I need central AC help

Don't go past the Showboat after 3am.

[ANC]

I live in an 800 sqft condo. I have central air and it usually comed out to around $100 a month. I set my thermostat on a timer.

8:00AM-4:00PM - 85 degrees
4:00PM-10:00PM - 72 degrees
10:00PM-8:00AM - 70 degrees

The sun hits my living room 80% of the day so when I'm gone I draw all the shades to help. Also you might want to check your window frames for leaks. My bill dropped about $50 a month when I got my new windows installed.

[ANC]

Don't go past the Showboat after 3am.

:lol: Or the Claridge..

[JPMNICK]

I live in an 800 sqft condo. I have central air and it usually comed out to around $100 a month. I set my thermostat on a timer.

8:00AM-4:00PM - 85 degrees
4:00PM-10:00PM - 72 degrees
10:00PM-8:00AM - 70 degrees

The sun hits my living room 80% of the day so when I'm gone I draw all the shades to help. Also you might want to check your window frames for leaks. My bill dropped about $50 a month when I got my new windows installed.

i was thinking the windows were a problem. i will look into that

[MobCounty]

I just got central put in and the guy who installed it saw that I had window units to cool only the rooms I am using.. He said that's what he should have done, that his bills are crazy with central... :/

[RAAMONE]

I just got central put in and the guy who installed it saw that I had window units to cool only the rooms I am using.. He said that's what he should have done, that his bills are crazy with central... :/

haha...so the guy putting in the central air was saying it was shitty

and thats what i do...1 in the living room and one in the master BR keep them on low cool...works great

[JPMNICK]

haha...so the guy putting in the central air was saying it was shitty

and thats what i do...1 in the living room and one in the master BR keep them on low cool...works great

that was my old apartment setup and i loved it. 3 wall units, with 4 computers running all day and my bill was never over 145

[booster11373]

check your return air filter make sure that is clean. Seriously think about having someone come and look at the unit as they get older the power usage will rise. Since moving to the south we run the damn thing from may to october and I just had a guy come out to look at my ac unit this week. Its 20 years old and the lst thing I want is it to crap out in august he gave it a good bill of health for a 20 year old machine

get it checked!

the others had some good points as well draw your blinds and consider blackout curtains also think about ceiling fans they help alot and dont have the massive power consumption

[bobrobot]

Def check the filter , that can rob efficiency big time. If you find that the filter is filthy, it must be replaced immediately (it should be replaced MONTHLY) AND the evaporator coils prolly need a professional cleaning!!! FYI, a central ac system, properly maintained and including timer thermostats, is about 300% more efficient than window shakers.

http://swain.ces.ncsu.edu/content/images/library/87/hvacman.jpg

[ahhdurr]

Check your unit outside. If there's grass and weeds around it - clear it out ... clear the area. You want really good air flow being pulled in and blown out the top. If you're really feeling inspired, you can crack open the housing and have some fun cleaning... just clear it out, I'm sure you have cobwebs, leaves, animals and whatnot in there - get it out. Then get some spray cleaner on the aluminum fins that surround the fan blade (that's your heat disspation for the condenser coil) and hose them out (be careful of the electric)... in fact - there's good sites on the interweb that explain this whole process. This is an easy way to really improve cooling.

Check your ducting for leaks. Maybe you're A/C'ing the basement too much or whatnot. Also, shut doors to rooms you're not using and close those vents.

Check the blower to see if it needs oil and clean out the area the filter's placed in if necessary. KILL ALL POWER BEFORE DOING THIS!

Insulate your house better. Buy tubes of caulk and seal the windows - if you have a ladder and some balance you get outside and seal the outsides too - they probably show some cracking and weathering all around the outside of the window if it hasn't been done in awhile. Put those weather strips around the bottom of the door.

Get a programmable thermostat. That def. helps with the bill b/c it'll automatically adjust the high limit for you at night and when you're likely to not be home.

Get ceiling fans installed.

MAKE SURE YOU KILL THE POWER BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING!!! You lose a finger we'll just have fun calling you stubby.

Make sure your fan blower is working efficiently. Check that the amperage it's pulling isn't too high.

You may need a coolant charge. Unless you have experience doing that I'd leave it to a pro. It requires hooking gauges up to the coolant lines and checking pressures.

The condenser fan might be inefficient also - go outside and see how fast it's turining - if it looks slow (maybe compare it to a neighbor's) you may need to address that.

[Freitag]

Dummy, there's just North AC and South AC.

[ANC]

Dummy, there's just North AC and South AC.

:lol: Fantastic!

[jauble]

I live in an 800 sqft condo. I have central air and it usually comed out to around $100 a month. I set my thermostat on a timer.

8:00AM-4:00PM - 85 degrees
4:00PM-10:00PM - 72 degrees
10:00PM-8:00AM - 70 degrees

The sun hits my living room 80% of the day so when I'm gone I draw all the shades to help. Also you might want to check your window frames for leaks. My bill dropped about $50 a month when I got my new windows installed.

Man all that heat must have messed with your grammar skills.

[ANC]

Man all that heat must have messed with your grammar skills.

:wallbash: or I could spin it that I get $100 every time I come, thanks Sploog Fairy! (Booooo)

[jauble]

:wallbash: or I could spin it that I get $100 every time I come, thanks Sploog Fairy! (Booooo)

Dont worry I still love you budday

[topless_mike]

i dunno dood.
my central a/c is on 73 round the clock, and there is a tv going all day, and then there is my reef tank lighting and heating... my bill is only 95 per month... 1100 sq ft condo.

[topless_mike]

check your filter.
have your unit serviced.
also, what floor are you located on? that makes a huge difference. find out the age of your units (specifially the compressor- that is what eats up the energy). most likely, the blower fan on your unit is only a 3amp motor. you can run that all dam year and not notice it. if you have an older compressor fan, that is whoring up your elec bill. if its old enough, ditch it.

the bigger the box, the more surface area. more surface area = better cooling = less work fan must do = more cheddar in yo pocket.

[JPMNICK]

check your filter.
have your unit serviced.
also, what floor are you located on? that makes a huge difference. find out the age of your units (specifially the compressor- that is what eats up the energy). most likely, the blower fan on your unit is only a 3amp motor. you can run that all dam year and not notice it. if you have an older compressor fan, that is whoring up your elec bill. if its old enough, ditch it.

the bigger the box, the more surface area. more surface area = better cooling = less work fan must do = more cheddar in yo pocket.

I am 2nd floor.

Each unit has their own Central AC. I have the entire thing in my apartment, it is not on the roof or anything. I can open a closet and see most of it.

I am going to try a filter change this weekend.

[RAAMONE]

check your filter.
have your unit serviced.
also, what floor are you located on? that makes a huge difference. find out the age of your units (specifially the compressor- that is what eats up the energy). most likely, the blower fan on your unit is only a 3amp motor. you can run that all dam year and not notice it. if you have an older compressor fan, that is whoring up your elec bill. if its old enough, ditch it.

the bigger the box, the more surface area. more surface area = better cooling = less work fan must do = more cheddar in yo pocket.

AC talk is sexy

[FUNKMAN]

I need central AC help

make a left at Bally's and continue straight towards Harrahs

:tongue:

[ahhdurr]

AC talk is sexy

Funny. :lol:

[topless_mike]

I am 2nd floor.

Each unit has their own Central AC. I have the entire thing in my apartment, it is not on the roof or anything. I can open a closet and see most of it.

I am going to try a filter change this weekend.

right, but in your unit should be the filter box, and return blower. if you have central air, then you probably also have forced hot air, which runs on the same unit.

your compressor fan is that box thing that is outside on the ground and runs when your air is on. that is the power whore.

[ahhdurr]

I am 2nd floor.

Each unit has their own Central AC. I have the entire thing in my apartment, it is not on the roof or anything. I can open a closet and see most of it.

I am going to try a filter change this weekend.

on second thought - check the ice block. That tends to wear down especially over the course of - what's that thing been in there for... awhile now right?