Would an improperly installed or malfunctioning thermostat raise my power bill?

Question

Hey folks, early in the summer I moved into a new apartment. When I moved in there was an ancient central air conditioning unit installed. I live in Florida, so having a decent quality and efficient unit makes a huge difference in terms of how much you pay on your power bill.

Now, the old one was not functioning well at all, so my land lord was gracious enough to install a brand new one that is easily twice the size of the old.

My first month and a half of power bills here cost over $400. After the new unit, I am still seeing monthly bills in the $185 range. My friend who lives next door is getting bills for $125.

In addition, my friend lives with his girlfriend and they almost always have at least one tv running, even when they sleep. I, on the other hand, live alone and rarely watch TV. I keep the temp set to around 76 when I am home, but move it up into the low 80s when I am at work.

I basically see only two real likely explanations. Either the insulation in my unit is much worse, or the thermostat is not reading the temps right and thus activating the AC unit more often than is needed.

For example, in the afternoon, the thermostat will read that it is anywhere from 80-87 in the apartment. While it does feel warmer inside than 76 during these hours, it certainly isn't 86 in here.

So, my question is, how can I determine if the thermostat is the problem here? The thermostat is relatively new, but it was not installed with the new AC unit. Thanks!

Answer 1

Now, the old one was not functioning well at all, so my land lord was gracious enough to install a brand new one that is easily twice the size of the old.



Having you say that. If the NEW unit that was installed is bigger TON wise (not size of actual unit) then that could be all of your problems. Lets say you had a 2 ton unit. And the landlord installed a 3 ton unit. That would cause excessive electric bills. Why? You have to have a system that is matched for the ductworks supply and return. An oversized ac system on undersized ductwork that was designed for a smaller ton system. Will cause the new system to run and run. Basically your over conditioning the space and the AC cant do it job correctly. Is it possible it the stat I suppose, but based on your comments. You would need to know what size tonnage wise the old one was. If the put in a bigger ton unit bingo there is the root of all your problems. If this holds true your up a creek here. And it also possible here that they just changed out the outside unit, and left the inside unit alone. So, your have a new unit on an oil evaporator coil. Which is ok, however, if the unit in the apt was 20 years old. It aint gonna work right. Causing the system basically to run itself to death. It a Seer problem, CFM problem, and the indoor coil probably is caked up with crap.

Answer 2

Ok well you live in Florida for once 76 is too low 79 or 80 is better and turn it off when you go to work its going to cool down eventually when you get home if the unit meets the house requirements it should only take like 5 min and try setting a thermometer near your thermostat if there ISA degree difference it's fine probably the house isn't insulated enough and what I can tell it's old So you definitely need new insulation and it maybe something else get your hands on an ampmeter and turn everything off inside everything now check if any wire going to the breakers are pulling amps if so that's your problem turn all back on except that one and look for the problem area and have it fixed. Now turn everything on to how you would normally use fridge tv microwave etc. And do the same none should exceed the amps on the breaker nor come close so if its a15 amp you don't want to see 14.45 and the same for the20 40, and 50

Answer 3

You should get it checked - it is a fairly simple task. A faulty themostat can certainly affect your power bill. The installers of the a/c should have made sure it was correctly calibrated to their unit



The other thing to consider is your insulation - including the windows - which can affect heat retention and reduction.



I do wonder why you put the temp up to the 80's when you are not there - seems a waste of heat - as having it at that level will keep the a/c working more - especially if you are losing heat through poor insulation etc. If you have it at below 76, it would not take much to bring it up to 76, which seems to be your preferred temp

Answer 4

I would recommend that you check that the thermostat is compatible with the A/C unit. You can do this by checking the website of the A/C manufacturer.



In addition to this you could turn the thermostat to full and then to low to see if you notice a difference in temperature, if there's no change then there's a fault or it's not compatible. If this is the case, you should call a professional in to replace/repair.

Answer 5

You truthfully do keep with the aid of turning it down once you do no longer want it. particularly circumstances, once you're making the situation intense, it particularly is less complicated to visualise. think of being long gone for a week, and turning the warmth right down to 55F....once you come back, enable's say it takes 2 hours to warmth the abode back up. If the warmth have been left on 70F all that factor, it would have run extra effective than 2 hours to maintain that temp over that factor. yet another ingredient is that the insulation and abode windows interior the abode lose warmth swifter if the version between the interior and outdoors is larger. returned, making it intense...if the exterior and interior temps are precisely a similar, there is 0 warmth loss. because of fact the version turns into extra effective, the fee of warmth loss additionally turns into extra effective. It takes extra capability to maintain a temperature distinction of 60 stages than a distinction of 45degrees. to function in yet another excuse...in case your furnace does not would desire to tutor on and rancid as in many cases, it saves funds because of fact automobiles take one extra jolt of electric energy just to start. in the event that they do no longer would desire to start as plenty, they do no longer take as plenty ability. Furnaces do no longer "run extra good" in the event that they run longer. They run on a similar fee, it is not like the gasoline pedal on a vehicle. Ya dinna can deny the guidelines O' physics...

Answer 6

a new unit installed condenser and a higher energy bill sounds like a miss match it will work but bills go higher look at evap coil see if you see a size aka 00024 is a 2 ton see if outside matches just my thought on it thermostate is just a switch its telling it when to go on and off you have something going on with system

Answer 7

no

its just based on what was used last yr in that apt, when you move it up it takes longer to cool it when you get home,

so set it and forget it, that's the problem,