Do you turn them off or leave it on at all times?

diehardbiker said:
If some of you reading this and wondering which is cheaper Central AC installation or window AC unit.

Both of them have advantage and disadvantage. Central AC, the most advantage is just cosmetically. They are very expensive to install, but the operational cost is about the same.

Window AC is ugly as you know "White trash style" But VERY cheap. Say if I decided to go all windows AC at my house, it would cost me only 600 dollars to install VERSES central AC cost me $3,000.

So basically, your paying for the look of the system. Pay more, you see less of them.
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$600 is cheap yes, but ugly.
 
KristinaB said:
Coffee pots turn of automatically in my house after 2 hours. TVs get turned off as does the XBox 360. Computers - 2 desktops are on 24/7, netbook shut down each evening. Nintendo 3DS XLs turned off each night. We never run washer or dryer overnight or leave them to run if we leave house. The motion sensitive lights stay on all night. Most lights are on from 8am to midnight.

Now, during thunderstorms with lots of lightening, then I shut down and unplug stuff.
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I have power surge protectors for my computer and TV . If a thunderstorm
happen when I am dead asleep I am will not hear it and if I did hear it I would not want to get out of bed to start unplugging everything. I do unplug my coffee maker when I done with it .
 
My three security cameras turn on for 24/7.. increase a little bit power bill around $10 a month or less.
 
Tousi said:
Why do you unplug the toaster? Electrical storms?
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i would always turn computer off in electric storm and never use phone but i not see how toaster would be affected.
most things i leave on but i dont like doing it,it just way this house was wired
 
dereksbicycles said:
I turn off AC when I leave. Also most of the lights. Should I unplug AC instead of just turning it off?
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You should leave the AC on. It takes more energy to cool down the area again then to leave it on a higher setting while you're gone. Also, turning it off can make the area more humid and mold-prone. Unless you live in area that isn't really very hot or humid, so maybe you don't even need AC.

I guess you have window AC, not central AC.
 
diehardbiker said:
Happened to mine, on third year with AC. That is when I decided call another AC contractor. They found the problem, it was just a refill valve. They replaced it, ever since it works awesome, and much better than first three years.
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Hubby found AC contractor on Angies List. Don't know if that is nation wide but local companies are reviewed and rated by customers on that site. The guy that came out lied through his teeth and said there were some parts that were bad. Wanted $1500 to repair. Hubby didn't buy it and are regular guy came out the following week. Just needed some freon. Hubby wrote his own review for the first guy.:giggle: I hate when repair people are dishonest. Be honest the first time and you will have a customer for life, plus referrals.

I unplug appliances when leaving on vacation. Definitely do not run washer, dryer or dishwasher while I am out of the house. AC and Heat are on a temp control. I do unplug my toaster when done using it.
 
Angel1989 said:
Hubby found AC contractor on Angies List. Don't know if that is nation wide but local companies are reviewed and rated by customers on that site. The guy that came out lied through his teeth and said there were some parts that were bad. Wanted $1500 to repair. Hubby didn't buy it and are regular guy came out the following week. Just needed some freon. Hubby wrote his own review for the first guy.:giggle: I hate when repair people are dishonest. Be honest the first time and you will have a customer for life, plus referrals.

I unplug appliances when leaving on vacation. Definitely do not run washer, dryer or dishwasher while I am out of the house. AC and Heat are on a temp control. I do unplug my toaster when done using it.
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I had a client that kept his toaster right under the kitchen cabinet and it almost started a fire as the toaster got too hot and burnt the cabinet. So I no longer keep my toaster under my kitchen cabinet.
 
Jiro said:
it's a very good idea to unplug any appliances/devices you're not using. if it's a commonly-used device... best to keep it plugged.

if you want to unplug it but feel it's a hassle to do it... get this one -

41J2OFZiMUL._SY300_.jpg
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Ohh that's nice. I am like Botts....
 
whatdidyousay! said:
I had a client that kept his toaster right under the kitchen cabinet and it almost started a fire as the toaster got too hot and burnt the cabinet. So I no longer keep my toaster under my kitchen cabinet.
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A house fire is one of my great fears. My neighbor was getting ready to leave for work. She forgot something and went back inside. There was smoke in her kitchen. Fire department came and found it was her refrigerator. They set up those big fans to air out the house and even helped her move her food to a neighbors house.
 
Angel1989 said:
A house fire is one of my great fears. My neighbor was getting ready to leave for work. She forgot something and went back inside. There was smoke in her kitchen. Fire department came and found it was her refrigerator. They set up those big fans to air out the house and even helped her move her food to a neighbors house.
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Was it an old refrigerator? I heard of someone putting their coffee machine on automatic to have it ready when they woke up , the house burnt down. I unplug my coffee machine so I will know it's off!
 
Yup, this is fact. I rarely adjust thermostat. I set them and forget it. I did make comparison when changing thermostat with leaving them alone. I found out that leaving them alone saves more energy than messing up with it constantly. It is OK to turn off for a real long period of time like 3 or more days then you will see the difference.

It takes energy to cool or heat everything inside your residence. It is not just air itself, but chair bed, body of stove, cabinets, couch, walls, skeleton and so on they are made of solid matter and hold heat or cool energy longer.

Reba said:
You should leave the AC on. It takes more energy to cool down the area again then to leave it on a higher setting while you're gone. Also, turning it off can make the area more humid and mold-prone. Unless you live in area that isn't really very hot or humid, so maybe you don't even need AC.

I guess you have window AC, not central AC.
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When I grew up in a poor family in Detroit where it was an ongoing struggle to make ends meet. I learned so much from my parents how they handled it very well. My mom had me when she's 17. They bought a ranch house for just $5k and make $100 payment for every month. My dad usually told me and my sister. Whenever we don't use the room.. turn the light off or even if we don't watch the TV turn it off. Today, I am used to it. My average electricity bill is $38 dollars every month without AC on. With AC on - about 30 dollars more. I usually turn the ceiling fan on and the temp is at 78-80 degree. It's pretty cold inside. When i'm not home, i put it up like 82-84 degree.
 
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