All this talk about the AC Temp got me wondering

Cyclist

mustang190 said:

What is the units rating? Tonnage?

Will have to check. I think the issue is the air always blowing. The installed doesnt know a lot about them and this issue was never brought up.

mustang190

To big of a unit for the square footage will cause the unit to be inefficient. 
 One of the AC guys here can explain it. 
 Sounds like all you need is a ton and a half unit. 

mindyabiness

Cyclist said:

We have a mini split with spider (blower in Attic and ducts).

And a problem. Have to keep thermostat at 73-74 to get humidity below 65%. WAY too cold. If we set it at 80-82 like our old house and Carrier unit the humidity will hit 80% and higher.

From what I understand, the minisplits always pretty much blow air....even when not cooling....thus sometimes air is blowing over wet coils humidifying the house.  Also they are so efficient they don't run much, even to keep house at 73. Entire electric bill is 65$, even with low temp setting. 2 fridges, box freezer and every appliance electric.

Any AC experts have any suggestions? Hate to get a humidifier, may have too.

Umm..... maybe you should get a Dehumidifier?

Cyclist

mindyabiness said:

Cyclist said:

We have a mini split with spider (blower in Attic and ducts).

And a problem. Have to keep thermostat at 73-74 to get humidity below 65%. WAY too cold. If we set it at 80-82 like our old house and Carrier unit the humidity will hit 80% and higher.

From what I understand, the minisplits always pretty much blow air....even when not cooling....thus sometimes air is blowing over wet coils humidifying the house.  Also they are so efficient they don't run much, even to keep house at 73. Entire electric bill is 65$, even with low temp setting. 2 fridges, box freezer and every appliance electric.

Any AC experts have any suggestions? Hate to get a humidifier, may have too.

Umm..... maybe you should get a Dehumidifier?

May have to. Would rather figure out definitively why the AC isn't getting it done.

surfman

Add a room to the house.

Cyclist

surfman said:

Add a room to the house.

We are. Screened in sleeping porch, living area and kitchen.

conchydong

Cyclist said:

surfman said:

Add a room to the house.

We are. Screened in sleeping porch, living area and kitchen.

Forget the screens and build that wall.

cadman

Cyclist said:

We have a mini split with spider (blower in Attic and ducts).

And a problem. Have to keep thermostat at 73-74 to get humidity below 65%. WAY too cold. If we set it at 80-82 like our old house and Carrier unit the humidity will hit 80% and higher.

From what I understand, the minisplits always pretty much blow air....even when not cooling....thus sometimes air is blowing over wet coils humidifying the house.  Also they are so efficient they don't run much, even to keep house at 73. Entire electric bill is 65$, even with low temp setting. 2 fridges, box freezer and every appliance electric.

Any AC experts have any suggestions? Hate to get a humidifier, may have too.

Buy a dehumidifier. I did this for one of my stores that was too humid. Went from 70% and foggy cooler doors to 50% and clear doors. It was a small 4000 sgft model for $250. Piped the drain outside and plug it in. 

micci_man

ferris1248 said:

Sounds like your AC may be over sized.

yep. Watch for mold to start growing.

77 during the day when away 75-74 when there during the day and night.

Winter 68-70 when home.

Buford Cletus

When we lived in Florida we kept the AC set at 74.  Moved to AZ a couple of years ago and we keep it set at 80 even during the 115-120 degree days and it's perfectly comfortable.  Humidity is a funny thing.

Flats2blue

Summer temp 80 all the time, ceiling fans run all the time in the room I am in.  Winter set to 72 but may set it lower in the future.  

mindyabiness

Cyclist said:

mindyabiness said:

Cyclist said:

We have a mini split with spider (blower in Attic and ducts).

And a problem. Have to keep thermostat at 73-74 to get humidity below 65%. WAY too cold. If we set it at 80-82 like our old house and Carrier unit the humidity will hit 80% and higher.

From what I understand, the minisplits always pretty much blow air....even when not cooling....thus sometimes air is blowing over wet coils humidifying the house.  Also they are so efficient they don't run much, even to keep house at 73. Entire electric bill is 65$, even with low temp setting. 2 fridges, box freezer and every appliance electric.

Any AC experts have any suggestions? Hate to get a humidifier, may have too.

Umm..... maybe you should get a Dehumidifier?

May have to. Would rather figure out definitively why the AC isn't getting it done.

And!

You will have all of the distilled water you'll ever need....

mplspug

mustang190 said:

To big of a unit for the square footage will cause the unit to be inefficient. 
 One of the AC guys here can explain it. 
 Sounds like all you need is a ton and a half unit. 

The AC guy told me to open all the vents I closed.  I was trying to force more air to the master.  He said that not how it works and it would ruin my coils.

mustang190

mplspug said:

mustang190 said:

To big of a unit for the square footage will cause the unit to be inefficient. 
 One of the AC guys here can explain it. 
 Sounds like all you need is a ton and a half unit. 

The AC guy told me to open all the vents I closed.  I was trying to force more air to the master.  He said that not how it works and it would ruin my coils.

He is right. And also keep all the interior doors open or cracked open to allow more return air to the unit. Newer homes have return ducts built in so doors can stay closed. 

Keep on Spoolin

Summer 77 always and winter 68 if needed.

humbler

swampwalker said:

Wife likes 73 in summer. No heat unless the grand babies are spending night. Happy wife - happy life (cold husband though)..

This. I am ok with 76-78 but my wife is 74 and even 73 sometimes. AND, the ceiling fan over our bed is on all summer. I get all the blankets. When we need the heat it's usually turned on to 68. 

Gary S

Cyclist said:

We have a mini split with spider (blower in Attic and ducts).

And a problem. Have to keep thermostat at 73-74 to get humidity below 65%. WAY too cold. If we set it at 80-82 like our old house and Carrier unit the humidity will hit 80% and higher.

From what I understand, the minisplits always pretty much blow air....even when not cooling....thus sometimes air is blowing over wet coils humidifying the house.  Also they are so efficient they don't run much, even to keep house at 73. Entire electric bill is 65$, even with low temp setting. 2 fridges, box freezer and every appliance electric.

Any AC experts have any suggestions? Hate to get a humidifier, may have too.

Most of the minis that I worked on were not ducted. There were a few that were but were designed to be.
 As far as fan running all the time that should be a setting issue, and it will not raise humidity if it runs all the time. Water is removed from air  when it goes across cold coil.The coil is cold when compressor is running. New units will delay the fan on start up to get evaporator cold before starting fan and will delay the fan on shutdown to take advantage of cold coil. If you unit is over sized it won't run long enough to dehumidify the space.  You also have to make sure your house is tight. no leaks around windows and doors. Jalousie windows are the worst. No duct leaks attic. And don't oversize the unit. You should be around 18000 BTU or as said already a ton and a half.

gatorhook

78° with built in Dehumidifier set to 50 year round. New ductwork when AC was replaced/upgraded 5 years ago. Cut my bill in half. If you can get the humidity out it feels like 70.

Tarponator

I use a Nest thermostat to keep my home at 78 during the day and 75 at night, and I never have to touch it.

Just added a 2nd temp sensor so the one used at night is in the bedroom (it's generally a few degrees warmer/cooler in there).

The Nest system (and others like it) are pretty neat.  You should check it out if you've not already, Cad.

Resinhead

Might want to so some due diligence.

http://mynestsucks.com

mplspug

gatorhook said:

78° with built in Dehumidifier set to 50 year round. New ductwork when AC was replaced/upgraded 5 years ago. Cut my bill in half. If you can get the humidity out it feels like 70.

I know everyone knows this, but it's called an air conditioner and not a refrigerator for a reason, it dries the air out as well as cools.  But drying the air out is really why we can keep the thermostat in the 70s and still feel comfortable.

AC Man

Tarponator said:

I use a Nest thermostat to keep my home at 78 during the day and 75 at night, and I never have to touch it.

Just added a 2nd temp sensor so the one used at night is in the bedroom (it's generally a few degrees warmer/cooler in there).

The Nest system (and others like it) are pretty neat.  You should check it out if you've not already, Cad.

Not a fan. I want my T Stat to maintain my set point. Never sold one. 

AC Man

Mini splits are great at maintaining humidity. 

We only sell Mitsubishi. Yes they are expensive, but they work and do not break. 

Also, I dont care what unit you have, certain weather conditions will have your tile floor wet if you are not willing to turn the stat down or have a dehumidifier in Florida. Rare, but it happens. Many times in the spring rainey season you gotta crank it down to 72.

micci_man

Bunch of cold blooded guys here! I guess most are in central to south FL where it doesn't get cold. Cold meaning freezing temps and many just above. 

Tarponator

Yeah, but a fancy one.  AC Man was referring to a set and forget type of thermostat, I believe.

For what it's worth, the Nest paid for itself in six months.  I also like the additional feature of being able to access it from my office and bedroom which are upstairs or when I'm not even in the house via my phone.  It also has a neat feature to go to a higher temperature when I'm not home that saves even more money.

I suspect Cad will see some of the appeal, even if AC Man doesn't.  To each his own, after all.  

Have fun...Mike

dstockwell

74 summer, 72 when it's winterish.

AC Man

Tarponator said:

Yeah, but a fancy one.  AC Man was referring to a set and forget type of thermostat, I believe.

For what it's worth, the Nest paid for itself in six months.  I also like the additional feature of being able to access it from my office and bedroom which are upstairs or when I'm not even in the house via my phone.  It also has a neat feature to go to a higher temperature when I'm not home that saves even more money.

I suspect Cad will see some of the appeal, even if AC Man doesn't.  To each his own, after all.  

Have fun...Mike

I know there are people that like them, just not for me. I like technology, their technology is just not for me.

I think there are better options, and Nest did a great job marketing to the public.

Other control companies market to contractors.

cadman

Tarponator said:

Yeah, but a fancy one.  AC Man was referring to a set and forget type of thermostat, I believe.

For what it's worth, the Nest paid for itself in six months.  I also like the additional feature of being able to access it from my office and bedroom which are upstairs or when I'm not even in the house via my phone.  It also has a neat feature to go to a higher temperature when I'm not home that saves even more money.

I suspect Cad will see some of the appeal, even if AC Man doesn't.  To each his own, after all.  

Have fun...Mike

Sorry but i don't I like the temp where I have it set. Why would i want a nest? i have a programmable thermostat already in the unit. Leaving it at 80 saves me money and with fans and low humidity, I am fine. 

Resinhead

My programmable Honeywells adjust temp per a preset schedule. Adjust as needed.

72° from 7pm to 6am
78° 6am to 4pm
76° 4pm to 7pm.