On Tuesday, as temperatures around the Birmingham metro climbed over 90 degrees, my landlord emailed a notice about our air conditioning use:
“We tend to think that we can set our air conditioning thermostats to whatever temperature we desire and have the air conditioner do its job no matter what. However, this is not the case: there is a limit to how many degrees an air conditioner can realistically cool when comparing temperature differences between inside and outside air,” the company that owns my apartment wrote in an email.
My landlord, who works for H2 realty, recommended using the “20 degree rule” to set the thermostat as heat advisories continue across Alabama.
Here’s what that means, according to him and other experts:
What is the 20-degree rule?
Most air conditioning systems are designed to accommodate up to a 20-degree difference between the outside air and inside air while still keeping around a 55% humidity level.
Here’s what that means: When it’s 80 degrees outside, it’s easy for your AC to keep your house at 70 degrees inside. Even if it is 90 degrees out, your air conditioner should still easily reach the 70-degree mark.
However, if it is 100 degrees outside, it will be nearly impossible to reach 70 degrees inside without the air conditioner working completely overtime and causing problems such as excess humidity, according to my landlord. If you have your air conditioner set to a big differential, you will likely run your AC all day long and still not quite reach those desired temperatures. You’ll also end up with a huge energy bill.
An Alabama Power representative said that every year, extreme heat and cold increases the risk of individual power outages and rolling blackouts.
“We have to be careful not to overuse the grid,” he said.
What temperature should your thermostat be set to?
A good rule of thumb is during the hottest days when the dial reaches 100 degrees it is best to set your AC to somewhere between 75 and 80 degrees, according to this recommendation.
Alabama Power spokesman Anthony Cook said he recommends a 78-degree setting. That’s also the number federal officials suggest.
Don’t fiddle with the dial, he told customers; it’s best to set it and forget it.
“That way it doesn’t click on as often and have to work so hard to cool your house down each time,” Cook said.
What are other ways to cool my house down?
Turning your fan switch to the “on” position instead of leaving it on “auto” will help circulate the air in your home and also help rooms that are too hot or cool. This approach should also help cool down the upper level in two-story homes.
Keeping the shades closed on the sunny side of the house will assist in cooling the home on extremely hot days.
Close off unused rooms to conserve energy.
Consider using ceiling fans to keep you cool, and reverse the rotation of the fans.
Don’t use appliances on extremely hot days; use the stove instead of the oven and hang clothes to dry. If you do need to run laundry or the dishwasher, try to do so during off-peak hours to conserve heat and energy.
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June 15, 2022 at 10:55PM
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What is the 20 degree rule for air conditioners? Why are Alabama landlords recommending it? - AL.com
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