A/C in extreme heat

[Doc_Vegas]

Hey Guys:

Well summer is starting here on Lake Mead. I keep my boat at a slip and was wondering if it is wise to leave the A/C running at an elevated temp (say 95 degrees or so) while we are not using the boat? In June, we will have 3 weeks in a row where we can not be at the boat at all. Curious if it is best to leave the A/C off or keep it on (at a higher temp)? We do not pay for electric in our slip, so it would just be wear on the A/C unit, conversely, we keep the fridge going, so it would probably need to work harded without the A/C.

Thanks in Advance!

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: A/C in extreme heat

Gross waste to run the a/c while your not there. IMO

Fridge is well insulated and will be fine. Although cooling cans of soda and beer for 3 weeks while your gone could also be considered wasteful, if you have mayo and dressing in there well then that's a bit different.

I am not an enviromentalist wacko but am not pro waste and I always turn the lights off when I am done in a room or building.

 

[Doc_Vegas]

Re: A/C in extreme heat

Good points. I should have left the three week part out since I planned (unless someone suggested otherwise) to shut it down during that period.

My question was more related to during a "regular" week. We visit the boat a couple of times/week and I definitely want to keep the fridge going so we have cold drinks ready.

In terms of energy use, I would imagine that a few minutes of running that 7.4L motor at 3000 RPM uses more energy than an entire summer of A/C at the slip

I agree on the lights and we keep our house relatively warm in the summer and cool in the winter, but I certainly do not shut my A/C completely off in the summer and shut down my refridgerator, even if I am out of town for a few weeks....

Thanks

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: A/C in extreme heat

I leave my AC on, but I set the thermostat to 85*. When my cabin is closed up and locked, the temps can sore over 115*. When the temps get that hot inside, it tends to spoil our supply of food we keep on board. Also at those temps, the fridge will quit working as the freon cannot be condensed as well when extremely hot. This puts lots of stress on the compressor of the fridge.

The extreme heat is also very hard on the interior as well. I put my unit on a programmable thermostat. That way my AC will go into an occupied mode an hour before we arrive. It then will automatically go in to unoccupied mode when we leave.

Our electric is included with the slip fee which is why the price is lots higher than a non-electric slip. Many of the houseboats run theirs the same way while others leave them on constantly.

I do hate opening up my boat to be hit with a blast furnace type heat without the AC being on. I say do as you please since your the one that has paid for your slip.

 

[CAVU V]

Re: A/C in extreme heat

Many AC have a setting that allows the unit to come on every so often to circulate the air.