Dumb question about AC

**Valerie in WA** · 07-26-2006, 12:57 AM

We rarely have occasion to use AC, and we've only had it for 2 years anyway, so I'm pretty new. Seriously, we've probably used it less than 20 days.

Here's the question: In the evening, the outside temp drops from whatever-hot down to 60 or 65. The house is still 75 (where we set the air during the day). Can I open all the doors and windows AND turn on the air to 70 or so (to cool it down for sleeping)? Or should I leave the house shut and run the AC down? We do not have significant humidity. It seems to me that the cooler outside air could only help, but it just sounds so WRONG to use AC with windows open. KWIM?

Help me out here.

**guest32** · 07-26-2006, 09:09 AM

If it cools down enough at night, we open the windows...turn off the AC. But you can turn on just the fan on most newer units, and that will help circulate the air. Or if you have ceiling fans, you can use those. It's been so blasted hot here...last night was the first night it's gotten below 75 outside! We've been in the triple digits for days

I hate how stuffy the house gets after days and days with the AC going....

**baxjul** · 07-26-2006, 06:05 PM

I would put in a window fan to suck the hot air out of one end of the house, and one to suck in the cool air at the other end. That is what I do here in the winter!

**pkellyc** · 07-27-2006, 10:08 AM

Hot air rises to my upstairs during the day and when the sun goes down the hot air falls making our home hot and humid. I will run the central air for a couple of hours and then open windows and run fans. It beats running the air all night long.

**PrairieRose** · 07-27-2006, 10:51 AM

Our a/c man told us that part of the job of the a/c is to remove humidity from the air. So even though you feel as if you don't have much humidity, I'd say living in WA you have to have. So he says to keep the humidity out, don't open the window. I have to say that I'd be inclined to though. (turning the a/c up to about 80 or so, so it won't kick on).

**Droppedonmyhead** · 07-27-2006, 05:56 PM

I could never go to sleep with my windows open at night. So I would keep them shut. My uncle to built homes always said to never turn off the a/c because when you turn it back on, it takes much more power and time to cool it off. He always recommended to reset the temperature on the a/c so it wouldn't go on as much.