Many homeowners just assume that turning off their air conditioning unit for the fall and winter is as simple as waiting for the weather to cool down and nothing more. However, late last fall a Milford, NH family was stunned to hear their air conditioning kick in on a cool, crisp day. The culprit was none other than the kitchen stove and family room fireplace warming the area to a temperature that their air conditioner thought was uncomfortable.

Don’t Rely Solely On The Thermostat

This is a common problem for families that rely solely on the thermostat to control their home’s heating and cooling. A few degrees in the wrong direction and the homeowner can quickly wind up spending money cooling a home, despite even cooler temperatures outside. This can significantly impact the energy efficiency of the home, and your pocketbook at the same time.

There are so many factors that can affect the temperature indoors. Cooking in the kitchen, sunlight through windows and doors or the comfort of a crackling fireplace can all quickly heat raise the temperature. However, this warming is not necessarily uncomfortable and during the fall this is not a time when you want the air conditioning to cool the home.

Turning Off The Air Conditioning Unit

To prevent this type of inefficiency, you can turn off the electrical circuit that is on the air conditioning unit itself. This circuit usually has a plastic or metal lid. Simply open the lid and flip the switch to turn the unit off. Taking this simple step will ensure that on a cool day the air conditioning unit will remain off, preventing this unnecessary use of power to cool the home. Just remember to turn the electrical circuit back on in the spring in preparation for using the air conditioning again.

The family in Milford took our advice and they no longer have to wonder why their air conditioning is cooling the home on a brisk October day.

The post Done with Air Conditioning for the Season? Milford Family Learns to Turn It Off appeared first on Joyce Cooling & Heating Inc. – Nashua, NH.

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