A/C and 2 story home people...

[spederman]

Just moved to a new 2 story house. We're not used to having 2 A/C units (1 for each floor) since our old home was a 1 story. Whats the most cost effective way to keep the home cool? Do you leave the upstairs unit off or just set to a higher temp then the downstairs? The home is a very open floor plan, so most of the ceilings are double story and open to the gameroom upstairs. The upstairs doesnt get used anywhere as much as the main floor.

[Vertnut]

Just moved to a new 2 story house. We're not used to having 2 A/C units (1 for each floor) since our old home was a 1 story. Whats the most cost effective way to keep the home cool? Do you leave the upstairs unit off or just set to a higher temp then the downstairs? The home is a very open floor plan, so most of the ceilings are double story and open to the gameroom upstairs. The upstairs doesnt get used anywhere as much as the main floor.

Leave it on at a higher temp. It will take some experimentation to figure out what's ideal.

[bjtheman1]

I leave my upstairs off unless I'm going to be up there awhile or if I have friends coming over. Downstairs is at 77 during the day then 68 at night.

[2165 Turbo Rail]

My upstairs unit is off all day and kicks on at 5:30p to 72* then shuts off at 8 am

Downstairs is off from 11p-4p and kicks down to 72-75 between 4p-11p

Most people say that's bad on the electric bill. I don't agree

Here's my billing history

[Couver]

My upstairs unit is off all day and kicks on at 5:30p to 72* then shuts off at 8 am

Downstairs is off from 11p-4p and kicks down to 75 between 4p-11p

Most people say that's bad on the electric bill. I don't agree

Here's my billing history
]

Theslimone on here just bought a house and he runs it the same way with good results. Hot air rising runs into the cooler upstairs and he has a ceiling fan pushing that cold air down to the 1st deck... Always comfortable in that camp and I have yet to hear him bitch about a high power bill.

[Chas_svo]

They told us to run 2 degrees warmer upstairs than down. I do need to program the thermostat though. We do have a reasonably cheap electric bill, considering the house size.

[2165 Turbo Rail]

Oh and our house is 2300sqft and also as the grand entry way

[Lone Sailor]

My upstairs unit is off all day and kicks on at 5:30p to 72* then shuts off at 8 am

Downstairs is off from 11p-4p and kicks down to 72-75 between 4p-11p

Most people say that's bad on the electric bill. I don't agree

Here's my billing history

The actual dollar amount doesn't matter. It's the kWh consumption that we need to see.

[46Tbird]

Neighbor down the street from me saved $80/mo over his previous year's bill (same rate per kwh) by only running his upstairs A/C. Cool air being heavier than warm air, you could feel the columns of air blowing down the stairwell and cooling off his lower level.

At least, that's what he claimed. Might be worth a shot.

[2165 Turbo Rail]

The actual dollar amount doesn't matter. It's the kWh consumption that we need to see.

Sorry don't have a way to see that in this format, only invoice by invoice