Does it make sense to precool your house?
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07-22-09, 11:54 AM
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Does it make sense to precool your house?
I'm in Az where it's been 110+ lately. We're on a program with our power company - off peak hours are 8pm-1pm @ 6.3 cents per kwh. On peak 1pm-8pm @ 20.03 cents per kwh.
At night we cool the house down to about 73 or 74 degrees and try to maintain that until 1pm (although it creeps up to about 76 because it's so hot out). At 1pm the thermostat is set to 81. Sometimes it only takes an hour for the house to get to 81 degrees (actually 82, the way the tstat is set). Then it runs and runs. Maybe it shuts off once or twice for about 10 or 15 minutes up until 8pm. Then the Tstat goes to 74 and it turns off often in the middle of the night.
I'm just not sure if the pre cool is necessary if it's going to hit 81 and run nearly continuously.
My unit has been serviced. I'm getting a good 20 degree split. The house was built in 67 but we have 2 very small south facing windows that get no direct sunlight. No windows on the west or east side of the house. NO shade on the west side of the house though. Our front doors are south facing and not insulated (no direct sunlight but the inside of the door is 100 degrees on hot days *IR thermometer). I point a fan at the doors and that seems to help.
Your thoughts??
At night we cool the house down to about 73 or 74 degrees and try to maintain that until 1pm (although it creeps up to about 76 because it's so hot out). At 1pm the thermostat is set to 81. Sometimes it only takes an hour for the house to get to 81 degrees (actually 82, the way the tstat is set). Then it runs and runs. Maybe it shuts off once or twice for about 10 or 15 minutes up until 8pm. Then the Tstat goes to 74 and it turns off often in the middle of the night.
I'm just not sure if the pre cool is necessary if it's going to hit 81 and run nearly continuously.
My unit has been serviced. I'm getting a good 20 degree split. The house was built in 67 but we have 2 very small south facing windows that get no direct sunlight. No windows on the west or east side of the house. NO shade on the west side of the house though. Our front doors are south facing and not insulated (no direct sunlight but the inside of the door is 100 degrees on hot days *IR thermometer). I point a fan at the doors and that seems to help.
Your thoughts??
Last edited by moderndiyer; 07-22-09 at 12:06 PM. Reason: spelling/ rate change
