tictac

We've got one of those wall-mounted De-Longhi air con units in our current lowset place, which we tend to run at around 24 degrees as advised by the ylocals. We're in Brisbane and it's the middle of the summer (in case people look at this post months down the line)

How efficient are these units?

Is it realistic to let the unit run for 8 hours a day or am I facing the prospect of a whopping bill at the end of the 1/4?

I tend to budget around $100 per month for elecy (AGL/Energex)


How do you use your aircon? Have you got any general principles you follow in how you use it?


Thanks

themerlin

Not very often If we do use it it's only for an hour in the bedroom before bed to cool the room down a little.

itsjustmee

I have it on when it gets above 28%
and it stays on until it gets cool some times 24/7

Wendy

I'm dreading my electric bill, we've had the aircon on almost continously for 2 weeks in all 6 rooms!. It's just too hot here at the minute not to (36+).

spartacus

This is a useful link for getting an idea on how much electrical stuff costs to run:

http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au...appliances.pdf

As other posters have mentioned, use it sparingly. Our bills are around the $300 mark over the winter / spring quarters. I know from others that their bills can top $800 for the summer quarter when they've hammered the aircon (that was for a ducted system though).

Timber Floor Au

K heres my top tips for aircons.

1. clean the filters once a month, just remove, run under cold water, shake n dry, and put back in.

2. buy cheap thermometer, and leave it nr the aircon. Whatever the thermometer reads, set the aircon ( cold cycle ) 2 degrees lower. Then monitor the a/c. If the outdoor unit is switching off at regular intervals, that means the desired temp inside has been reached.

3. generally the colder you set the aircon, has no affect on the coldness of the air, just the run time. SO !!!!! setting aircon to 16 degrees, is just stupid, and means you are telling the unit it cannot switch off until its reached 16 degrees !! No fqn chance lol

4. energex recommend 24 degrees, albeit most people prefer 22. Your choice.

5. ensure drain hoses outside are away from the wall, and the ground. Put some netting over the end, to prevent cockroaches n small froge getting in.

6. some units ( outdoor ) if facing the sun, can act peculiar, and sometimes will shut down, or throw up incorrect readings. Some people put a shade cloth to give the unit chance to breathe.

7. if your indoor unit is on the north side of the house ( ie where the sun is baking ) behind it... then the thermocouple ( temp ) sensor inside can pick up the warmth in the wall, when in fact the actual temp in the room, maybe cooler. Play about with the cheap thermometer you bought.

8. lastly, the front vanes ( vents ) , point them HORIZONTALLY on a stinker of a day, this blows the cold air across the hottest part of the room, and cools the room down a bit quicker, and due to convection, the cool air falls to the ground.

Steve

Lee Family

9. Make sure the outdoor unit coil is not covered with dust/leaves and that there is nothing stored on or around it to block the air flow.



Jon

FluffyTheCampfireSlayer

We run the one in our bedroom every night (without fail) at around 22-23 degrees.
The one in the front room is used for about an hour a time 2-3 times a week!
Our bill for the last quarter was a tad over $250 - we live in a 2 bed apartment and also use the tumble dryer a fair bit.

Money well spent in our opinion as being from a quiet area in the UK, neither of us can sleep with windows/ doors open due to the noise - we wake at a pin drop!!!

HTH