I recently have installed a Lennox XC15 and was wondering whether I should have the A/C constantly going even when nobody's home during the day or have it not come on until shortly before we get home from work?
I currently have the thermostat programmed so that the A/C will not come on after we leave for work and have it come back on to start cooling down the house shortly before we come back from work.
But what I noticed on my couple of days off from work is that during the day when it's not programmed to come on at all and is hot out, my house can reach as high as 30C/86F inside. Then when it came time to cool down the house, the A/C was going for quite a while before it brought the indoor temperature down to 24C/75F which is what we're comfortable at.
So, what I was wondering was, which would be a more efficient and less taxing use of the A/C?
- Have the A/C not come on during the day at all after we leave for work until we come home, no matter how hot it gets inside, thereby having the A/C run for quite a while before the indoor temperature is brought down to 24C/75F.
- Do have the A/C keep the house cool, but just not at 24C/75F, which is what we normally have the house at. But a little warmer while nobody's home, say 26C/78.8F. And then have the A/C cool down the house to our comfortable 24C/75F by the time we get home from work.
- Have the A/C running all the time to keep the house at the 24C/75F level whether nobody's home or not.
FYI, I believe my A/C has a SEER rating of 15 or so. How do you guys have your A/C programmed? Thanks.