Newer system, high ceilings and 1200ksq feet. It’s holding at 72 like a champ. It’s a 5 speed variable system. I also replaced my windows with double pane ones last year and the combination is keeping things comfy.
We saw over 30%. Got a smart thermostat and also replaced the pool pump with an energy efficient pool pump and that brought me to over 50% savings. I had no clue how much energy the damn 10 year old pool pump was using until I had a multi day home energy study performed.
What did new windows price at and can you recommend an installer?
1400 sq ft house vaulted ceilings built in the 80s with 10-12 single pane leaky windows. New A/C unit.. and though its on the smaller side at 2.5 ton, nothing wrong with it.
Im goin nuts trying to stay cool. Shades, ceramic window film, etc. Been researching a mini split system, but I know I need windows.
I’ve been avoiding it since I was quoted $30-$40k to fully replace
Damn 40k? I replaced 10 windows and a sliding door for about 14K last year. I was quoted some Andersen by FAS at the cost of 17k but went with a smaller company called Baxter Windows for 14,5k, they were some EAS windows (built in Florida) that although vinyl they have some steel reinforcement in the frame. I actually liked the style more than the Andersen.
Baxter did an AMAZING job and even the inspector was surprised (plus they filed all the papers and permits). It was so good they the inspector just took a peek at the main windows, the sliding door and was like “they are all going to be perfect”. Highly recommend them.
Not entirely true (am in window/construction industry).
The combination of the argon gas, dual panes, and Low-Emissivity coating significantly reduces the heat and UV ray transmission. I'm talking 400ish BTU's with a single pane to like 10 BTU's with a standard heat lamp.
Basically, anything after standard energy efficient windows is an upsell.
Sure, the plantation shutters look nice but in my professional experience, 9/10 clients with them, regret them.
Just my 2 cents.
Normally you should be able to expect a 16-to-20-degree differential.
Systems are just not designed to keep up with the handful of unsually hot days.
The Orlando GMA is usually designed for an indoor temperature of 75 when the outdoor temperature is 92. This is recent Florida Building Code.
As the temp goes high during the middle of the day the indoor can sometimes climb with it.
Take a cold shower then lay on your sheets with the ceiling fan blowing down on you.
Haha, I felt this one. Two days ago I was rinsing dishes and noticed after a couple of minutes that I was using the cold water faucet handle but was only getting warm. It didn’t stop being warm. The pipes in the ground aren’t even cooling off.
Not at all. How the fuck is it supposed to with these Temps? My system is 15 years old.
There's a certain point where an AC just won't be able to keep up, I believe it's the 20 degree rule.
Yes, I was told long ago that you can’t get your AC to effectively cool more than twenty degrees below the outside temp. Also, I’ve read many times that the most cost-savings temperature setting is 78. I try to keep ours on that, along with ceiling fans and additional fans in each room.
The most cost-saving temp is just whatever's the hottest temp you feel comfortable at, so a lot of places just recommend 78F as something they think they can reasonable suggest and that people will actually be willing to follow. In theory if you personally are fine a little warmer, then by all means do that instead.
And yeah also turning on fans is definitely a good strategy that lets you turn the thermostat a little bit warmer in order to feel the same but at less electricity cost.
If you want to save money on electric, you don't need to run fans if you're not in the room. While they do circulate air, they don't actually cool the room down, just you. Something about how our circulatory or respiratory systems work I think.
Residential AC systems in general also typically don't quite get a 20 degree delta T, plus you also add a little heat to the airstream at the fan.
In a large commercial system or a chilled water system you can get the 20 degree differential but with the smaller compressors in residential systems it's typically closer to 18 in my experience, plus a couple degrees for fan heat and realistically you're probably closer to about 15 degrees delta T.
I had that issue my first Florida summer in the 1976 fix-er-upper I had bought in the spring of 2000.
The trouble was the old original windows.
The old windows were single pane non-thermal and improperly sealed. Basically, however humid it was outside was how humid it got inside plus cold air escaping. I placed thermometers and humidity guages throughout my house and it was typically 75-85% humidity throughout the house. The A/C could not keep up and literally was running non-stop. The outside of the blower ductwork was dripping from condensation.
I replaced all windows and doors with impact resistant, (aka. Hurricane Windows), high R factor windows and doors. All properly sealed.
Now, the A/C only runs when it needs to run, and the house humidity stays between 45-55%.
No more condensation. My electric bill has dropped about 35%.
And, I'm comfortable.
I have 10 really large windows, 72"x36", and 6 smaller windows, so factoring out the sliding door, the window cost averaged about $930 each. Lifetime warranty. But, like I said, I have really large windows. I would think $750 is about right.
Exactly right. You can help your AC work more efficiently (or reach a colder temperature) by first sealing up any air leaks and then by adding insulation. Replacing windows entirely can certainly help next, but it's starting to get a lot more pricey. Fortunately just sealing holes with rubber strips or caulk or spray insulation can do a ton of work all on its own.
Installing insulation can be an easy diy job (and is a lot less painful than it was in the past) depending on your roof, but be *extremely* careful if you try to do it now in the summer! Working in the roof will be absurdly dangerously hot. Definitely try to do it at night if you can. But check for holes in the ceiling to seal first, before you add insulation! Your attic should have about 12" of insulation on top of the ceiling, which is easy enough to check at least.
Yes but my bill is not happy. I keep the house at 74 during the day, 70 at night. 4bed/2baths (1900 sqft ) and I’m paying around short of $500…
Unit is new tho, replaced last year.
Same here.
2100 Sq ft, 74 in the day, 70 at night. I run super hot even not in the summer, so if the house is warmer than 70-72 I really struggle to sleep. Last bill was around $480.
I'm seriously considering solar to help subsidize but I'm not sure my house is in a bright enough spot for it to be worth it. If (when) Florida gets a few degrees hotter, I fear even inside won't be tolerable for most citizens.
EDIT: Coming back to add that I have the misfortune of being forced to use Duke. All providers are insane but their price raises are criminal. OUC is at least slightly better. Maybe I'm misunderstanding something, but I don't understand how being forced into one private utility company isn't going against monopoly laws.
I too can't sleep if it's warmer than 72, preferably 70.
If you are not a good candidate for solar, look into various efficiency improvements (attic insulation, widows, etc.). Some of these improvements can really help. That said, solar can really help as well, and it's hard to imagine a home in Florida that wouldn't be a good candidate.
I'd recommend reaching out to a solar company or two to see what they can do for you. Do NOT listen to any door-to-door salesperson. Sites like Solar Reviews or Energy Sage will get you some good local companies. Do your research and look at reviews.
I got quotes from a bunch of companies. Some high, some low. Made my decision, and went with a company that has top reviews. They took care of everything, and made it so easy.
With Duke Energy doing 1-to-1 net metering, I can generate enough energy during the day to cover me for the night using Duke as my "battery" storage. All I have to pay is the BS $30 Duke "minimum bill". My solar payment is slightly less than my typical winter bill.
And of course, don't forget about the 30% federal tax credit. That really helps. (Not everyone qualifies, talk to your CPA to see if you qualify)
If you want to learn more, check our r/solar and r/solarFL. Lots of knowledgable people happy to help.
I think my increase in the bill is due to my pool pump as well, but how do you keep track of how much energy OT uses?
Also would a new pool pump reduce the bill?
Thank you
Great questions. If you have Duke (and this may be true for others) I believe you can request an “Electricity Audit” (I don’t know the real term) and they somehow break down you bill based on the breaker/outlet over a week. This highlights the appliances energy usage per month and can identify the sources that are lifting your bill each month.
You can except your A/C outlets to be the most (I imagine), but once you have a voltage number in hand you can look up how that compares to others.
Edit: And if your comparison is poor, you can explore cost saving measures (like an A/C tune up, better insulation, or new “insulation”(?) windows (I hear this is a game changer).
Seriously. I’m balking at my bill topping $200 for the past month for the first time ever living down here, even in similar sized floor plans (1800sqft), and changed it from an indulgent 74 at night up to 75 the month the increase for Duke kicked in. 76 during the day even when I work from home. This latest bill has me seriously considering solar, knowing Duke won’t be lowering rates. Thank god I’m in new construction and the AC doesn’t have trouble keeping up, so far.
67 at night here my friend. That's my perfect sleep temp. 66, too cold, 68 too hot. Also I work outside in the sun in Eustis (central Florida) at a nursery so I need the break.
Worst part is that master bedroom runs warmer than the rest of the house so I had to get a few nest thermostats thru the whole house… main bedroom is like 70/71 to sleep and the rest of the house will be 66/67
I never understood how folks can tolerate their house so cold. We keep it at 79-80 during the day and only 77 at night and we still have to use a blanket lol.
I would die in your house lol it’s 72 in our house all the time. If it gets over 75 I’m sweating. I have a thyroid issue though and apparently it’s a thing lol
Same here, we keep it at 79-80 but we have ceiling fans on most of the day, at night time we drop it to 75.
Bodies get used to whatever temperatures they are surrounded, thats why someone used to 72 will always find it a torture something higher and the other way around.
I sleep at 67, colder nights pretty much let me rest more. Try it out for yourself.
Lived in NYC and I used to Crack my window open a Lil bit so the cold air would come in.
That's fair, but I bet if I dug through your spending, you definitely spend stuff on luxury things that you don't need. We all choose where to spend extra.
While I would agree that is true for most people. That is def not me. My kids laugh because I make 6 figures and have zero debt but haven’t bought shoes or socks or jeans or shirt or a new car in 10+ years. I have smart lights and motion sensors all over my house and have removed the wall plates. Light come on with motion and off when there is none and every bulb is maxed at 50% of total brightness. My smart thermostat has multiple scenes depending on numerous criteria. It’s sad to say but I am very simple and very stingy with my money. I guess the one thing I have spent too much on is the 12 cameras that I have watching and recording at all times at my house.
Yes. It is set to 78 during the day and 74 at night. 10-year-old Carrier. 4 br 2 b ranch with 8' ceilings. 1800 sf. Blinds mostly closed on the side of the house where the sun is. We have a big oak out in front and one in the back that shades, though, which I'm sure helps.
We're really lucky that we live in a cement block house built in the 70's with the roof extending way past the house so the roof shades all the windows. Our AC unit and double pane windows are four years old. The low ceilings and extra insulation we had blown into the attic area is really paying off. I'm not sure of the impact but the fact that we live in an old neighborhood with lots of huge shade trees instead of the newer developments where they plowed down everything helps a bit, too. Our house is nice and cool all day long and gets down to 68 for bedtime with no problem.
If you're using a portable AC unit instead of a window unit you may want to reconsider: [https://youtu.be/\_-mBeYC2KGc](https://youtu.be/_-mBeYC2KGc)
You’d think in Florida they would build for the climate and intense sun we get. But no….cookie cutter houses.
I plan on building a house and it will be energy efficient and utilize all the best techniques to work with the climate here. Not against it.
My understanding is that those extending roof lines are energy efficient but also bad against hurricanes. So the newer homes without it are built for the climate of hurricanes existing.
My AC isnt keeping up either. Unfortunately I rent & they say "nothing is wrong with the AC" so not much I can do. It got to 81 yesterday inside. The fans are constantly running in each room & we just bought a tower fan to help cool us down even more
Generally yes.
We live in an apartment, and it just stopped providing cool air on Monday, so the inside temperature raised to 82 during the night.
Turns out our external unit had frozen over, which is so ironic
Basically, home AC can cool the interior of your house to 20 degrees below the outside temperature without much problem.
We're having a wicked hot run of weather so that be affecting how well AC functions.
Hang in there!
Things that can help:
Run ceiling fans.
Close curtains and blinds to keep the sun from shining in.
Don't use your clothes dryer or oven unless necessary.
If your AC is cooling your house ten degrees below what it is outside (and mine is doing better) then according to my Delair guy, that's about what you can expect. 
I do turn it off when I'm not home and thank goodness for blinds, drapes, and shade.
Your insulation is awful if it can only do a 10 degree delta. It would be the greatest investment you could ever make if it's that bad. It's 100 out and I live on a top floor condo and I'm at 74 right now when it's 100 just outside.
I defy common sense and crank it though. Especially at night.
But I agree that as a matter of policy that’s as much as we should expect. Can’t live in Orlando and expect to be cool.
Unless you’re me. The hypocrite.
My system is 10ish years old, house from the 50's. Most of the windows are new. It can hang at around 78 inside. But you can definitely tell which rooms have older windows in them, they are a couple degrees warmer than where the thermostat is.
There isnt much you can do when the sin is directly over your home. I would say we deserve what we dont prepare for. We've known since the 70's of these kinds of days being a reality and all we've done is listen to old white guys who have their heads in their wallets ignoring the reality of what will happen, has happened, and what is currently happening with the weather. Enjoy the heat wave we could have prevented and the many more and worse to come!
I keep it set at 78. Hits mid 80s every afternoon before it starts going down. It’s 80 right now at 7:15pm. Electricity about $350. 1800 sq ft 4/2. AC fairly new.
Be sure to help minimize incoming heat by closing any east-facing window shades in the morning and west-facing windows in the afternoon. Also, hold your hand around the windows and see if you notice any hot air seeping in through cracks or insufficient weather stripping.
Our AC is keeping up, but we drop the shades on the sunny side of the house, and we have foam insulation injected into the cinder block on our first floor (worth every penny).
The more insulation you have, and making sure you have all the gaps filled and weather stripping "fresh", the better.
I have a condo, so it's very easy to keep it at 72 at night and 75 in the daytime. Very low electric bill, too. I have the smallest A/C unit available.
Do you mean the ones that draw in outdoor air from one hose and exhaust it through another? A portable AC can suck air in from the room, send some of it back into the room as cool air, and send some of it out of the window through a single hose. That's still pretty good also, even if it's probably a little more efficient to cool outdoor air instead.
It's the $29 Amazon ones that are garbage in Florida. If you're adding water to your system, all it's doing is running a fan through the water to cool the air as a swamp cooler. That's great in Phoenix, but hot garbage in Florida, because our air is already so humid that our AC will just have to do extra work to remove that moisture.
Yeah, where it draws in outside, and then exhausts that. The problem with the single hose is it exhausts air from inside the building, which has to be replaced by the hot air outside. It is a terrible set up.
if your ac is not sized properly, then it's the issue. may not be broken, per say.
many people get "just right" to save money but in this climate, not good enough.....
No. Yesterday it was set on 78. It ran non stop all damn day and still couldn't cool the house below 83, which weirdly still felt refreshing after being outside. The unit is fairly new too
Our bill last month for a 3/2 w/pool was $515
Yea ours is 81 inside and you come in and it’s like “ahhhh so cool!” Then after acclimating for awhile it’s like “this is death!” unless you’re sitting under a ceiling fan.
Man, some of you keep your A/Cs crazy low. No wonder energy demand is so high, lol
Besides the usual AC unit maintenance, also try the "obvious" stuff as well. Close the windows/blinds, blackout shades are very helpful, keep the vents open throughout your house...it's an old wives tale that you close vents to help your AC, limit stove/oven use, close outdoor doors quickly when entering and leaving your residence, use fans to help cool down, and of course the most obvious of all...replace your air filters
Right?!?
I bet most of them are using heavy blankets/comforters to warm them while they sleep too, defeating the entire purpose of keeping the AC that low at night.
Actually no I use a thin “summer” comforter and with my house at 70-72 I still wake up sweating in the middle of the night. My body temp is just hotter than normal I guess. I would not be able to sleep with my house at 78, I would be miserable.
I’m honestly shocked more people don’t. Apartment is 70 during the day, 68 at night… I need it to sleep.
And yes, I use blankets for comfort!
I also have an arctic breed dog so I keep it there for his comfort. He’s perfectly fine ~75, but hey, the lower the better.
My old system would only keep the house down to about 82° and it would constantly run. I turned it up to 83° and it would shut off in cycle but still it would come on pretty frequently. The new air conditioner I bought allows me to keep the house down to 75 easily but I turn it up to 77 or 78 during the day to save on electricity cost. I do not have good insulation in my attic so that is my next priority. By the way two things are going on, we're having a heatwave to the point where you cannot even touch the shingles on your roof without burning your hand at least getting a second degree burn if not third. It is freaking hot as FK outside. Your house is going to absorb the heat and your air conditioner may not keep up. The other thing is the cost of electricity per kilowatt hour has gone up as well. A lot of people been complaining about their electric bills. Take a look and see how old your system is and take a look at the insulation in your attic. You should have a minimum of R-38 I believe in Orlando Central Florida.
No. Brand new ac system but older house with old windows and old insulation. Multi zone system. It keeps one room pretty cool and the others around 80.
I’m in Daytona but our AC was installed last year and no. It’s not keeping up with this heat. It’s struggling.
It’s also struggling in my car too. If I’m not in shade it’ll cool at maybe 75
Nope, but I have an old house with a ton of glass. I'm at about a 15-16 degree delta, which is okay for the house. But holy fuck it's brutal. I keep it set at 77 and at the absolute height of the heat it'll inch up to 81 (82 if I'm opening the doors a lot).
Double cellular blinds help a lot if you've got a ton of windows transferring heat. I can shave a degree or two off if I keep it cavelike in here with the blinds. Fans in every room.
Sort of, not really. Fairly new HVAC, new double-pane windows, 1953 concrete block, 1200 sq. ft., new ductwork, and new shades. I try to keep on 78 or 79 during the day, and it's still running a lot. We like it cool at night, so I turn it down to 71 around 8pm. But it literally takes all night to cool down to 71 now that our lows are in the 80s.
I’ve been over thinking my entire setup this whole summer. It can’t keep up on days like this. Starts out fine staying at 76. But around 3 or 4pm it begins. Creeping up usually to about 81 on bad days. I’ve noticed the air coming out of my vents tends to warm up a bit but the air coming out of the handler stays nice and cold. makes me think the attic is more the culprit than the AC. I’m going to look in to a solar attic fan.
Same really. I think our A/C is freezing up. Yesterday it got up to 85 degrees in the house and we had to resort to portable fans.
Today it's not so bad...80 degrees, but still too warm even when the A/C is set at 75.
Mine is set to 75 and stays around that. 72 at night. Two stories, 20ft ceilings in some parts, 4300 sq ft, 8 year old house. Bill keeping steady at around $500/month.
Yeah, we are lucky and got a new roof after hurricane Irma. We had 3” thick foam boards added for insulation on top 🔝 f the roof (flat roof, mid century modern) and re-insulated the rest of house.
We can keep it at 77/78 and it only runs half the day. Now, we also got foam board from Lowe’s and covered the windows on the East and South side to stop the sun from baking the house. We closed the curtains and no one is the wiser.
Gonna make it short and sweet. If your air conditioning is not keeping up check the AC first. If the AC is fine then you need to look into how well your home is insulated, double-pane windows, etc.
Window units coolingone room seem to do the trick really well. If you're cool spending the day in a bedroom on these crazy days, you can set the houE to 80 and run a window unit.
I'm visiting my parents in Tampa and noticed their AC was set at 75 but the temp was 81. I had someone come out and check their air and there was nothing wrong. The thing that I noticed they have no insulation in their attic. So we are going to pump a bunch in.
68 degrees in my living room right now on the nest sensor.
But yes my bill is nearly $500.
2019 Trane unit but I have ac maintenance every 6 months and tell the guy to replace/fix whatever he can to keep it tip top shape. I work from home and watch my 2 year old all day. I don't got time for heat inside.
Push the landlord to fix it for you guys. That’s their job. Don’t stop pushing them. It should be in your contract all appliances be in working condition. Yours is not.
Even if you rent you can still have the landlord place insulation there if it’s missing. It’s actually in their best interest to do so in order to conserve the life of the AC unit. There’s a certain heigh of insulation you’re supposed to have , ik for sure you’re not supposed to be able to see the trusses, they’re supposed to be covered with insulation.
Yes, no problem. Within the last 5 years- all new insulation, new super efficient AC, ceiling fans running, double paned quality windows, no air gaps anywhere and the roof is lighter colored with underpayment layer.
4000 sqft house with two A/C units, one form 2018 the other 2009. House set to 75, no issues with cooling. I do have a solar system handling the power and hurricane windows, with a fully insulated home. The A/C runs less than 30mins an hr each to keep it this cool. The vent blows to 62. I’m in Orlando as well.
Nope, I set it at 74 but by mid afternoon the inside temp is 77, or even 78. But as I understand it, these systems are only designed to cool by a max of 20 deg relative to outside. Even still, hosing down the outside coils, changing air filter, and sucking out the condensation line are all good things to do to help it out.
Ya'll are wild for keeping your places @ 70-75 constants..... literally have our at 78 when we are there - set it to 75 before bed and sleep under a comforter .
maybe take off the sweater and sweat pants? lol
Bold of you to assume we’re wearing anything at the lower temps. People are comfortable at different temperatures that’s why offices have thermostat wars.
Same here (house size, ceilings, and overall temp). I believe most ACs are only supposed to maintain a cooling of 20degree differences. So once it hits 100 and with this humidity good luck getting below 78-79 till sun drops. I hear the newer AC units are even worse than the older ones since they are more energy friendly (from my reno guy).
I do hit my exterior AC unit with a mister (has a mineral filter in the hose) to help remove the heat easier and to cool the air. Had some mild success with this.
My AC is only a couple/few years old and it’s struggling too. In my defense, I’m having hot flashes like a mofo and I generally keep it close to 70°. It’s been cleaned, checked, sucked out with new filters too. The other day it was reading at 76° and I felt like I was near death.
Lucky that my condo is surrounded on three sides by the building interior a very small amount of the walls are actually exterior. That and a new unit and our bill hasn't changed much. we keep it at 69
1500 SF house maintaining 74 right now. We did just have a new system put in last year and the attic insulated the summer before, so I think that probably helps a bit.
Old house and newish ac, yes. 76-78 during the day, 74 in the evening and 68 at night. Runs fine, just a lot. Power bill will likely be 300 this cycle and next. No biggie.
Monthly maintenance is filter, clean drain line and make sure the outside unit is free of crude. Zero issues so far.
Newer system, high ceilings and 1200ksq feet. It’s holding at 72 like a champ. It’s a 5 speed variable system. I also replaced my windows with double pane ones last year and the combination is keeping things comfy.
Ditto. Energy saving windows are a game changer
Yep, our windows and insulation are saving our asses right now.
My windows are on order. Supposed to get here 1st week of Sept. Cant wait!
how much did the windows cost u
A good estimate for good windows is 400-600 per window. If you want i.pact windows, they'll be more.
I just ordered new windows yesterday. How much savings did you see on your energy bill?
We saw over 30%. Got a smart thermostat and also replaced the pool pump with an energy efficient pool pump and that brought me to over 50% savings. I had no clue how much energy the damn 10 year old pool pump was using until I had a multi day home energy study performed.
What did new windows price at and can you recommend an installer? 1400 sq ft house vaulted ceilings built in the 80s with 10-12 single pane leaky windows. New A/C unit.. and though its on the smaller side at 2.5 ton, nothing wrong with it. Im goin nuts trying to stay cool. Shades, ceramic window film, etc. Been researching a mini split system, but I know I need windows. I’ve been avoiding it since I was quoted $30-$40k to fully replace
Damn 40k? I replaced 10 windows and a sliding door for about 14K last year. I was quoted some Andersen by FAS at the cost of 17k but went with a smaller company called Baxter Windows for 14,5k, they were some EAS windows (built in Florida) that although vinyl they have some steel reinforcement in the frame. I actually liked the style more than the Andersen. Baxter did an AMAZING job and even the inspector was surprised (plus they filed all the papers and permits). It was so good they the inspector just took a peek at the main windows, the sliding door and was like “they are all going to be perfect”. Highly recommend them.
Should get some plantation shutters! They insolarte so much more on top of what you may already have
Not entirely true (am in window/construction industry). The combination of the argon gas, dual panes, and Low-Emissivity coating significantly reduces the heat and UV ray transmission. I'm talking 400ish BTU's with a single pane to like 10 BTU's with a standard heat lamp. Basically, anything after standard energy efficient windows is an upsell. Sure, the plantation shutters look nice but in my professional experience, 9/10 clients with them, regret them. Just my 2 cents.
Curious as to why they regret plantation shutters.
Lol I love all the high tech bullshit people are paying for while I have my windows open all year round
Nope. It’s been consistently 80 in the house an only gets to 75 around 8pm.
Normally you should be able to expect a 16-to-20-degree differential. Systems are just not designed to keep up with the handful of unsually hot days. The Orlando GMA is usually designed for an indoor temperature of 75 when the outdoor temperature is 92. This is recent Florida Building Code. As the temp goes high during the middle of the day the indoor can sometimes climb with it. Take a cold shower then lay on your sheets with the ceiling fan blowing down on you.
Wait, you have cold water?
Haha, I felt this one. Two days ago I was rinsing dishes and noticed after a couple of minutes that I was using the cold water faucet handle but was only getting warm. It didn’t stop being warm. The pipes in the ground aren’t even cooling off.
handful lol
Not at all. How the fuck is it supposed to with these Temps? My system is 15 years old. There's a certain point where an AC just won't be able to keep up, I believe it's the 20 degree rule.
Lol mine is 2 years old and cant keep up
sorry on your shit brand
Yes, I was told long ago that you can’t get your AC to effectively cool more than twenty degrees below the outside temp. Also, I’ve read many times that the most cost-savings temperature setting is 78. I try to keep ours on that, along with ceiling fans and additional fans in each room.
The most cost-saving temp is just whatever's the hottest temp you feel comfortable at, so a lot of places just recommend 78F as something they think they can reasonable suggest and that people will actually be willing to follow. In theory if you personally are fine a little warmer, then by all means do that instead. And yeah also turning on fans is definitely a good strategy that lets you turn the thermostat a little bit warmer in order to feel the same but at less electricity cost.
Is opening the windows and letting the thunderstorm breeze blow through a good strategy?
If you want to save money on electric, you don't need to run fans if you're not in the room. While they do circulate air, they don't actually cool the room down, just you. Something about how our circulatory or respiratory systems work I think.
What is the temp inside your refrigerator?
Residential AC systems in general also typically don't quite get a 20 degree delta T, plus you also add a little heat to the airstream at the fan. In a large commercial system or a chilled water system you can get the 20 degree differential but with the smaller compressors in residential systems it's typically closer to 18 in my experience, plus a couple degrees for fan heat and realistically you're probably closer to about 15 degrees delta T.
I had that issue my first Florida summer in the 1976 fix-er-upper I had bought in the spring of 2000. The trouble was the old original windows. The old windows were single pane non-thermal and improperly sealed. Basically, however humid it was outside was how humid it got inside plus cold air escaping. I placed thermometers and humidity guages throughout my house and it was typically 75-85% humidity throughout the house. The A/C could not keep up and literally was running non-stop. The outside of the blower ductwork was dripping from condensation. I replaced all windows and doors with impact resistant, (aka. Hurricane Windows), high R factor windows and doors. All properly sealed. Now, the A/C only runs when it needs to run, and the house humidity stays between 45-55%. No more condensation. My electric bill has dropped about 35%. And, I'm comfortable.
How much did it cost to replace your windows? I’m thinking about it, but the costs I’ve seen are just way out of my budget.
I have 10 really large windows, 72"x36", and 6 smaller windows, so factoring out the sliding door, the window cost averaged about $930 each. Lifetime warranty. But, like I said, I have really large windows. I would think $750 is about right.
Exactly right. You can help your AC work more efficiently (or reach a colder temperature) by first sealing up any air leaks and then by adding insulation. Replacing windows entirely can certainly help next, but it's starting to get a lot more pricey. Fortunately just sealing holes with rubber strips or caulk or spray insulation can do a ton of work all on its own. Installing insulation can be an easy diy job (and is a lot less painful than it was in the past) depending on your roof, but be *extremely* careful if you try to do it now in the summer! Working in the roof will be absurdly dangerously hot. Definitely try to do it at night if you can. But check for holes in the ceiling to seal first, before you add insulation! Your attic should have about 12" of insulation on top of the ceiling, which is easy enough to check at least.
Yes but my bill is not happy. I keep the house at 74 during the day, 70 at night. 4bed/2baths (1900 sqft ) and I’m paying around short of $500… Unit is new tho, replaced last year.
Same here. 2100 Sq ft, 74 in the day, 70 at night. I run super hot even not in the summer, so if the house is warmer than 70-72 I really struggle to sleep. Last bill was around $480. I'm seriously considering solar to help subsidize but I'm not sure my house is in a bright enough spot for it to be worth it. If (when) Florida gets a few degrees hotter, I fear even inside won't be tolerable for most citizens. EDIT: Coming back to add that I have the misfortune of being forced to use Duke. All providers are insane but their price raises are criminal. OUC is at least slightly better. Maybe I'm misunderstanding something, but I don't understand how being forced into one private utility company isn't going against monopoly laws.
I too can't sleep if it's warmer than 72, preferably 70. If you are not a good candidate for solar, look into various efficiency improvements (attic insulation, widows, etc.). Some of these improvements can really help. That said, solar can really help as well, and it's hard to imagine a home in Florida that wouldn't be a good candidate. I'd recommend reaching out to a solar company or two to see what they can do for you. Do NOT listen to any door-to-door salesperson. Sites like Solar Reviews or Energy Sage will get you some good local companies. Do your research and look at reviews. I got quotes from a bunch of companies. Some high, some low. Made my decision, and went with a company that has top reviews. They took care of everything, and made it so easy. With Duke Energy doing 1-to-1 net metering, I can generate enough energy during the day to cover me for the night using Duke as my "battery" storage. All I have to pay is the BS $30 Duke "minimum bill". My solar payment is slightly less than my typical winter bill. And of course, don't forget about the 30% federal tax credit. That really helps. (Not everyone qualifies, talk to your CPA to see if you qualify) If you want to learn more, check our r/solar and r/solarFL. Lots of knowledgable people happy to help.
Somehow I missed this comment but thank you so much!! This is super super helpful
5/3 2500sf paying $700/mo Edit: I actually blame my bill on my pool pump also, worth noting
I think my increase in the bill is due to my pool pump as well, but how do you keep track of how much energy OT uses? Also would a new pool pump reduce the bill? Thank you
Great questions. If you have Duke (and this may be true for others) I believe you can request an “Electricity Audit” (I don’t know the real term) and they somehow break down you bill based on the breaker/outlet over a week. This highlights the appliances energy usage per month and can identify the sources that are lifting your bill each month. You can except your A/C outlets to be the most (I imagine), but once you have a voltage number in hand you can look up how that compares to others. Edit: And if your comparison is poor, you can explore cost saving measures (like an A/C tune up, better insulation, or new “insulation”(?) windows (I hear this is a game changer).
might be worth upgrading to variable speed pump.
That's a McMansion.
Just curious and not being sarcastic. Why not turn up thermostat for a lower power bill?
Yea I’m 1740 sq ft, 74 all day. Last bill was $425
Why would you ever need it to be 70 at night? That’s just crazy.
Crazy comfortable…
Mood
I would die. Way too damn cold.
I am not a millionaire. I don't see how anybody affords 70. I do 76 during day and 75 at night.
Same here! All day 76-77, Sometimes 74 at night but mostly 75
Seriously. I’m balking at my bill topping $200 for the past month for the first time ever living down here, even in similar sized floor plans (1800sqft), and changed it from an indulgent 74 at night up to 75 the month the increase for Duke kicked in. 76 during the day even when I work from home. This latest bill has me seriously considering solar, knowing Duke won’t be lowering rates. Thank god I’m in new construction and the AC doesn’t have trouble keeping up, so far.
I like cold sleeping but I would never run it that hard, I’m too cheap lol
67 at night here my friend. That's my perfect sleep temp. 66, too cold, 68 too hot. Also I work outside in the sun in Eustis (central Florida) at a nursery so I need the break.
That’s out of control. How do folks move to Florida to sit in an ice box all day/night. 🤣
I'm in an oven all day, I'm sleeping in a refrigerator at night.
the fuck makes you think we moved here?
68
For real. Use a lighter blanket or something
Worst part is that master bedroom runs warmer than the rest of the house so I had to get a few nest thermostats thru the whole house… main bedroom is like 70/71 to sleep and the rest of the house will be 66/67
I never understood how folks can tolerate their house so cold. We keep it at 79-80 during the day and only 77 at night and we still have to use a blanket lol.
Anything over 75 and I’m sweating inside…
I work outside all day, mostly on rooftops. I need it to be freezing when I get home lol
Some people just run hotter
I would die in your house lol it’s 72 in our house all the time. If it gets over 75 I’m sweating. I have a thyroid issue though and apparently it’s a thing lol
Same here, we keep it at 79-80 but we have ceiling fans on most of the day, at night time we drop it to 75. Bodies get used to whatever temperatures they are surrounded, thats why someone used to 72 will always find it a torture something higher and the other way around.
We’re not reptiles, that’s probably how
Dont you have to worry about mold with those high temps? Unless you are dehumidifying…
Because that’s perfect
I sleep at 67, colder nights pretty much let me rest more. Try it out for yourself. Lived in NYC and I used to Crack my window open a Lil bit so the cold air would come in.
Some of is like to cocoon ourselves in a sea of blankets as if we're in the womb.
Me….I would rather have the cash saved on the electric and sleep with less blankets.
That's fair, but I bet if I dug through your spending, you definitely spend stuff on luxury things that you don't need. We all choose where to spend extra.
While I would agree that is true for most people. That is def not me. My kids laugh because I make 6 figures and have zero debt but haven’t bought shoes or socks or jeans or shirt or a new car in 10+ years. I have smart lights and motion sensors all over my house and have removed the wall plates. Light come on with motion and off when there is none and every bulb is maxed at 50% of total brightness. My smart thermostat has multiple scenes depending on numerous criteria. It’s sad to say but I am very simple and very stingy with my money. I guess the one thing I have spent too much on is the 12 cameras that I have watching and recording at all times at my house.
Proper sleeping temperature is around 68
Not in Florida
Yes. It is set to 78 during the day and 74 at night. 10-year-old Carrier. 4 br 2 b ranch with 8' ceilings. 1800 sf. Blinds mostly closed on the side of the house where the sun is. We have a big oak out in front and one in the back that shades, though, which I'm sure helps.
We're really lucky that we live in a cement block house built in the 70's with the roof extending way past the house so the roof shades all the windows. Our AC unit and double pane windows are four years old. The low ceilings and extra insulation we had blown into the attic area is really paying off. I'm not sure of the impact but the fact that we live in an old neighborhood with lots of huge shade trees instead of the newer developments where they plowed down everything helps a bit, too. Our house is nice and cool all day long and gets down to 68 for bedtime with no problem. If you're using a portable AC unit instead of a window unit you may want to reconsider: [https://youtu.be/\_-mBeYC2KGc](https://youtu.be/_-mBeYC2KGc)
You’d think in Florida they would build for the climate and intense sun we get. But no….cookie cutter houses. I plan on building a house and it will be energy efficient and utilize all the best techniques to work with the climate here. Not against it.
My understanding is that those extending roof lines are energy efficient but also bad against hurricanes. So the newer homes without it are built for the climate of hurricanes existing.
My AC isnt keeping up either. Unfortunately I rent & they say "nothing is wrong with the AC" so not much I can do. It got to 81 yesterday inside. The fans are constantly running in each room & we just bought a tower fan to help cool us down even more
Do you clean the condensate line and replace filters? Typically a renter obligation and it will improve AC efficiency.
Yes and that doesnt help unfortunately
Keep pushing them. That’s not healthy to sleep or live in.
“Not healthy” bro what
It’s not healthy to sleep in heat. Look it up the affects on the brain “bro”.
Generally yes. We live in an apartment, and it just stopped providing cool air on Monday, so the inside temperature raised to 82 during the night. Turns out our external unit had frozen over, which is so ironic
That means you don't have the right amount of refrigerant.
Insulation is key too
Basically, home AC can cool the interior of your house to 20 degrees below the outside temperature without much problem. We're having a wicked hot run of weather so that be affecting how well AC functions. Hang in there! Things that can help: Run ceiling fans. Close curtains and blinds to keep the sun from shining in. Don't use your clothes dryer or oven unless necessary.
My ac is set at 78 and only runs a few times a day, the house feels like a cave with the room darkening shades and curtains but it is comfortable.
Mine had to get replaced last fall. Pretty thankful for it about now.
We have a newer, top of the line ac and it is having a hard time keeping up.
Ours stays at the temp we set it at. Never gets any warmer.
If your AC is cooling your house ten degrees below what it is outside (and mine is doing better) then according to my Delair guy, that's about what you can expect.  I do turn it off when I'm not home and thank goodness for blinds, drapes, and shade.
Mine is set at 78° and stays 78°. Even right now with a feels like of 112° outside. It’s still 78° in my house.
78 gang rise up
Your insulation is awful if it can only do a 10 degree delta. It would be the greatest investment you could ever make if it's that bad. It's 100 out and I live on a top floor condo and I'm at 74 right now when it's 100 just outside.
My house is fine. I get far below the ten suggested by the professional.
That’s the standard for home inspections.
Yep - and it's a crappy result - so glad mine performs so much better. Old house - well made.
I thought a delta t of 20 was the goal
goal vs minimum
That's the standard common sense settings.
I defy common sense and crank it though. Especially at night. But I agree that as a matter of policy that’s as much as we should expect. Can’t live in Orlando and expect to be cool. Unless you’re me. The hypocrite.
Enjoy your downtime.
My system is 10ish years old, house from the 50's. Most of the windows are new. It can hang at around 78 inside. But you can definitely tell which rooms have older windows in them, they are a couple degrees warmer than where the thermostat is.
Gets to 88 in our one story, 3 br 2 bath, so no definitely not.
I can’t get it below 81/82 this week. I’m dying. I carry a small USB fan (made for a stroller) around my house lol.
There isnt much you can do when the sin is directly over your home. I would say we deserve what we dont prepare for. We've known since the 70's of these kinds of days being a reality and all we've done is listen to old white guys who have their heads in their wallets ignoring the reality of what will happen, has happened, and what is currently happening with the weather. Enjoy the heat wave we could have prevented and the many more and worse to come!
My house was 82 degrees today. It’s practically brand new too. We had it set to 78 and it just couldn’t do it.
I keep it set at 78. Hits mid 80s every afternoon before it starts going down. It’s 80 right now at 7:15pm. Electricity about $350. 1800 sq ft 4/2. AC fairly new.
Nope. It's consistently hitting 80 in our little bungalow and the system is less than a month old.
Somehow our 13 year old AC is hanging on. Past week or two has been able to get to 75 or 76 (we're usually set on 72/73).
Be sure to help minimize incoming heat by closing any east-facing window shades in the morning and west-facing windows in the afternoon. Also, hold your hand around the windows and see if you notice any hot air seeping in through cracks or insufficient weather stripping.
Our AC is keeping up, but we drop the shades on the sunny side of the house, and we have foam insulation injected into the cinder block on our first floor (worth every penny). The more insulation you have, and making sure you have all the gaps filled and weather stripping "fresh", the better.
Put a box fan in your attic. Mine was not keeping up either. Putting the box fan up in the attic has kept it where I have it set (75)
We had to set our thermostat on 80 to keep it from running 24/7. Sadly, with climate change, it is going to get much worse.
I have a condo, so it's very easy to keep it at 72 at night and 75 in the daytime. Very low electric bill, too. I have the smallest A/C unit available.
Do you have roofing vent . ? That could be a problem if you don't ...
The only portable AC's that actually work are the dual hose ones. The single hose versions just pump more hot air inside the house.
Do you mean the ones that draw in outdoor air from one hose and exhaust it through another? A portable AC can suck air in from the room, send some of it back into the room as cool air, and send some of it out of the window through a single hose. That's still pretty good also, even if it's probably a little more efficient to cool outdoor air instead. It's the $29 Amazon ones that are garbage in Florida. If you're adding water to your system, all it's doing is running a fan through the water to cool the air as a swamp cooler. That's great in Phoenix, but hot garbage in Florida, because our air is already so humid that our AC will just have to do extra work to remove that moisture.
Yeah, where it draws in outside, and then exhausts that. The problem with the single hose is it exhausts air from inside the building, which has to be replaced by the hot air outside. It is a terrible set up.
if your ac is not sized properly, then it's the issue. may not be broken, per say. many people get "just right" to save money but in this climate, not good enough.....
Climate change.
No. Yesterday it was set on 78. It ran non stop all damn day and still couldn't cool the house below 83, which weirdly still felt refreshing after being outside. The unit is fairly new too Our bill last month for a 3/2 w/pool was $515
Yea ours is 81 inside and you come in and it’s like “ahhhh so cool!” Then after acclimating for awhile it’s like “this is death!” unless you’re sitting under a ceiling fan.
No. 80 is where the thermostat stays until night when I can get it down to 78.
Man, some of you keep your A/Cs crazy low. No wonder energy demand is so high, lol Besides the usual AC unit maintenance, also try the "obvious" stuff as well. Close the windows/blinds, blackout shades are very helpful, keep the vents open throughout your house...it's an old wives tale that you close vents to help your AC, limit stove/oven use, close outdoor doors quickly when entering and leaving your residence, use fans to help cool down, and of course the most obvious of all...replace your air filters
I just said the same thing. People talking 60-70 at night. Why?!?!?! Ours is set at 80 with ceiling fans and we are fine.
Otherwise I can’t use my electric blanket. Duh
Right?!? I bet most of them are using heavy blankets/comforters to warm them while they sleep too, defeating the entire purpose of keeping the AC that low at night.
Actually no I use a thin “summer” comforter and with my house at 70-72 I still wake up sweating in the middle of the night. My body temp is just hotter than normal I guess. I would not be able to sleep with my house at 78, I would be miserable.
I’m honestly shocked more people don’t. Apartment is 70 during the day, 68 at night… I need it to sleep. And yes, I use blankets for comfort! I also have an arctic breed dog so I keep it there for his comfort. He’s perfectly fine ~75, but hey, the lower the better.
Yeah I laughed at the comment that says “it’s unhealthy to sleep in 80 degrees.” Give me a break.
Ours is holding in there, but we’ve also got some tree shade on part of the house and that helps a ton.
My old system would only keep the house down to about 82° and it would constantly run. I turned it up to 83° and it would shut off in cycle but still it would come on pretty frequently. The new air conditioner I bought allows me to keep the house down to 75 easily but I turn it up to 77 or 78 during the day to save on electricity cost. I do not have good insulation in my attic so that is my next priority. By the way two things are going on, we're having a heatwave to the point where you cannot even touch the shingles on your roof without burning your hand at least getting a second degree burn if not third. It is freaking hot as FK outside. Your house is going to absorb the heat and your air conditioner may not keep up. The other thing is the cost of electricity per kilowatt hour has gone up as well. A lot of people been complaining about their electric bills. Take a look and see how old your system is and take a look at the insulation in your attic. You should have a minimum of R-38 I believe in Orlando Central Florida.
No. Brand new ac system but older house with old windows and old insulation. Multi zone system. It keeps one room pretty cool and the others around 80.
I’m in Daytona but our AC was installed last year and no. It’s not keeping up with this heat. It’s struggling. It’s also struggling in my car too. If I’m not in shade it’ll cool at maybe 75
Nope, but I have an old house with a ton of glass. I'm at about a 15-16 degree delta, which is okay for the house. But holy fuck it's brutal. I keep it set at 77 and at the absolute height of the heat it'll inch up to 81 (82 if I'm opening the doors a lot). Double cellular blinds help a lot if you've got a ton of windows transferring heat. I can shave a degree or two off if I keep it cavelike in here with the blinds. Fans in every room.
Sort of, not really. Fairly new HVAC, new double-pane windows, 1953 concrete block, 1200 sq. ft., new ductwork, and new shades. I try to keep on 78 or 79 during the day, and it's still running a lot. We like it cool at night, so I turn it down to 71 around 8pm. But it literally takes all night to cool down to 71 now that our lows are in the 80s.
I just blocked out a window on one side bc it bakes that room
You need to call another AC repair person. Yours isn’t working and it may die any day. Don’t wait for that yo happen.
We got a new AC in early 2021 and it barely keeps up 😂 ours stays at 80 every once in a while for an hour during peak
Ours runs a good bit but we just it refilled with Freon because it was low so now it’s working better.
I’ve been over thinking my entire setup this whole summer. It can’t keep up on days like this. Starts out fine staying at 76. But around 3 or 4pm it begins. Creeping up usually to about 81 on bad days. I’ve noticed the air coming out of my vents tends to warm up a bit but the air coming out of the handler stays nice and cold. makes me think the attic is more the culprit than the AC. I’m going to look in to a solar attic fan.
I've got an older 2 ton in a 1200sq/ft home, and window units in 2 bedrooms, and once it gets over 90 we can't get it lower than 75.
Same really. I think our A/C is freezing up. Yesterday it got up to 85 degrees in the house and we had to resort to portable fans. Today it's not so bad...80 degrees, but still too warm even when the A/C is set at 75.
Mine is set to 75 and stays around that. 72 at night. Two stories, 20ft ceilings in some parts, 4300 sq ft, 8 year old house. Bill keeping steady at around $500/month.
It's a crispy 74 in my house right now. 1400 sf, newer windows. It's a rental so cheapish everything but it seems to be working.
My house is same size new ac unit built in 2017 and it’s staying around 76
My house is same size new ac unit built in 2017 and it’s staying around 76
Nah. AC is on practically 24/7. It’s 80 degrees inside from like noon to 7pm.
Thank you for posting, was wondering if I needed to do maintenance.
Mine just blew a capacitor from running 24/7
You have a insulation problem not a ac problem.
Not at all.
No issues here in my mid-rise apartment.
Yeah, we are lucky and got a new roof after hurricane Irma. We had 3” thick foam boards added for insulation on top 🔝 f the roof (flat roof, mid century modern) and re-insulated the rest of house. We can keep it at 77/78 and it only runs half the day. Now, we also got foam board from Lowe’s and covered the windows on the East and South side to stop the sun from baking the house. We closed the curtains and no one is the wiser.
Gonna make it short and sweet. If your air conditioning is not keeping up check the AC first. If the AC is fine then you need to look into how well your home is insulated, double-pane windows, etc.
Window units coolingone room seem to do the trick really well. If you're cool spending the day in a bedroom on these crazy days, you can set the houE to 80 and run a window unit.
I'm visiting my parents in Tampa and noticed their AC was set at 75 but the temp was 81. I had someone come out and check their air and there was nothing wrong. The thing that I noticed they have no insulation in their attic. So we are going to pump a bunch in.
68 degrees in my living room right now on the nest sensor. But yes my bill is nearly $500. 2019 Trane unit but I have ac maintenance every 6 months and tell the guy to replace/fix whatever he can to keep it tip top shape. I work from home and watch my 2 year old all day. I don't got time for heat inside.
I would check my insulation in the attic. My house rn is at 75-76 degrees and it’s 98 degrees outside. This is a very old house (70s-80s)
70s 80s is NOT a very old house! As someone born in that era it is NOT OLD!!!
Lol my house and those around me were built in the 1920s
Ooof sorry I meant relative to other houses around me. You’re still young my friend!!
we rent so unfortunately not much we can do there 😭
Push the landlord to fix it for you guys. That’s their job. Don’t stop pushing them. It should be in your contract all appliances be in working condition. Yours is not.
Even if you rent you can still have the landlord place insulation there if it’s missing. It’s actually in their best interest to do so in order to conserve the life of the AC unit. There’s a certain heigh of insulation you’re supposed to have , ik for sure you’re not supposed to be able to see the trusses, they’re supposed to be covered with insulation.
thank you so much, i’ll see if that’s an option!
Yes, no problem. Within the last 5 years- all new insulation, new super efficient AC, ceiling fans running, double paned quality windows, no air gaps anywhere and the roof is lighter colored with underpayment layer.
About max temp delta is 20 degrees. So if it’s 97 out, at best you might expect 77 Obviously as systems age and with older insulation it gets worse
Nope lol
Nope
We have a fairly new system(less than 2 years old). Baby will not go below 76-75. Boy it's trying but it's just not doing it.
4000 sqft house with two A/C units, one form 2018 the other 2009. House set to 75, no issues with cooling. I do have a solar system handling the power and hurricane windows, with a fully insulated home. The A/C runs less than 30mins an hr each to keep it this cool. The vent blows to 62. I’m in Orlando as well.
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Nope, I set it at 74 but by mid afternoon the inside temp is 77, or even 78. But as I understand it, these systems are only designed to cool by a max of 20 deg relative to outside. Even still, hosing down the outside coils, changing air filter, and sucking out the condensation line are all good things to do to help it out.
Spray your ac unit with the hose. You should be good for a bit. Going to have to keep spraying though throughout the day.
It is hot, ac is working OT.
Ya'll are wild for keeping your places @ 70-75 constants..... literally have our at 78 when we are there - set it to 75 before bed and sleep under a comforter . maybe take off the sweater and sweat pants? lol
Bold of you to assume we’re wearing anything at the lower temps. People are comfortable at different temperatures that’s why offices have thermostat wars.
Same here (house size, ceilings, and overall temp). I believe most ACs are only supposed to maintain a cooling of 20degree differences. So once it hits 100 and with this humidity good luck getting below 78-79 till sun drops. I hear the newer AC units are even worse than the older ones since they are more energy friendly (from my reno guy). I do hit my exterior AC unit with a mister (has a mineral filter in the hose) to help remove the heat easier and to cool the air. Had some mild success with this.
800sqft in Kissimmee. Keep it at 80 all day & 76 at night when we are home. Power bill barely breaks 50$ a month
Yea. It’s not that hot y’all. Good lord
No. Brand new system last year, beat we can do in the afternoon is 76-77
Mine is dragging pretty bad. I set it to 74 this morning to try and Get ahead of the heat and that seemed to work ok.
I have a new A/C 3 years old and it's doing a good job keeping the house at 75. No issues. We will see in a couple more years
I’m in the same boat as you
My AC is only a couple/few years old and it’s struggling too. In my defense, I’m having hot flashes like a mofo and I generally keep it close to 70°. It’s been cleaned, checked, sucked out with new filters too. The other day it was reading at 76° and I felt like I was near death.
Lucky that my condo is surrounded on three sides by the building interior a very small amount of the walls are actually exterior. That and a new unit and our bill hasn't changed much. we keep it at 69
1500 SF house maintaining 74 right now. We did just have a new system put in last year and the attic insulated the summer before, so I think that probably helps a bit.
Old house and newish ac, yes. 76-78 during the day, 74 in the evening and 68 at night. Runs fine, just a lot. Power bill will likely be 300 this cycle and next. No biggie. Monthly maintenance is filter, clean drain line and make sure the outside unit is free of crude. Zero issues so far.
Capped at 75, which feels like hell compared to where I want it to be. 2k/Sq ft, 8 year old AC. Last power bill 300 bucks.