Is It Bad to Run Your Air Conditioner All Day?
Is It Bad to Run Your Air Conditioner All Day?
05/18/2023
When the scorching hot summer days arrive, having a home air conditioning system is nice to keep you and your family cool. After having an air conditioning system for a little while, it's not uncommon to have a few different questions about its operation. One of the biggest concerns many homeowners have is whether or not their air conditioning system should run all day.
Regular Operation
Most air conditioners are designed to run for about 15 to 20 minutes at a time. If your thermostat is set at a reasonable temperature, your system should only turn on and off about once an hour. However, on days when the temperature outside may skyrocket into the 90s or above, you may notice that your AC system is running more often. This can be expected as it's trying to combat the high temperatures outside.
Problems With a Constantly Running System
On days when the temperatures are at a normal 80 degrees or below, your system should be running its normal operation of turning on about once an hour. However, if your system is continually running all day, it can be a real problem. This will lead to extremely high energy bills and premature wear and tear on your air conditioning system and can drastically shorten the lifespan of your AC system.
Reasons Why Your AC System Runs All Day Long
One of the most common reasons an air conditioning system will run all day is that it's in the wrong setting. Your air conditioner will have both an on and an auto setting. When your system is set to auto, it will turn on and off based on the temperature your thermostat reads. When your system is set to on, it will run continuously without stopping. Simply turning your system from on to auto will typically solve the issue of constantly running all day.
Another common reason your air conditioner may run all day without stopping is that your thermostat is set too low. Most home air conditioning systems are not meant to cool a home much cooler than about 70 to 72 degrees. If you have your thermostat set at 65°, your air conditioning system will likely run all day long without being able to achieve that temperature. Turning the temperature setting up to at least 70 degrees should allow your AC system to keep up with your cooling demands.
Another typical reason an air conditioning unit will run all day is that it's undersized for the space it's trying to cool. Whenever your unit is too small, your air conditioning system simply won't be able to meet your cooling demands. Upgrading to a larger system will be a necessary fix for this issue.
Call Us Today
If you have more questions or would like to upgrade your existing air conditioning system, it's time to contact us at Command Service Center. Let our knowledgeable HVAC professionals assist you with all of your home cooling needs.
Resources:
https://www.homecomfortusa.com/our-blog/is-it-bad-to-run-your-ac-all-day/