Should I Shut my Office AC off at Night or Leave it On?

Let’s face it: the summer weather can make any environment hot and humid — primarily if you work in an office setting. Granted, if you own the company or you’re the last one to leave at night, you’ll undoubtedly be tempted to leave the AC running until the morning — but is that a good idea? Let us explain:

The Pros

Picture this: it’s a hot, humid July day and you’re the last one to leave the office for the weekend. With the central air still cranked high, you feel tempted to keep the air on all weekend long. Of course, you can do that — but it may waste energy and cause a potential power outage if on for too long. However, there’s a solution: a thermostat.

If you plan on leaving the air conditioner on all weekend, then it’s best to make sure that the thermostat is set to the correct temperature. Not only will this save your office from becoming a rainforest on Monday morning, but it will turn the AC off when it’s not needed.

Ideally, you’ll want to keep your thermostat set on a temperature setting that’s not too high, nor too low. If you’re not sure what would be the ideal temperature, then figure anywhere between 75-80 degrees. This will be a surefire way to keep the cool in your office, without wasting energy.

The Cons

When there’s good, there’s also bad — and it’s possible that leaving your unit on all night/weekend can be potentially dangerous. First and foremost, without a thermostat setting, your unit will be running at the same temperature — which will waste energy.

In addition to wasting energy, an AC without a thermostat setting also risks the potential of blowing a fuse and creating a power outage — specifically window units. Since an AC takes up a surplus of energy to run, it could be quite dangerous and could even start an electrical fire, if a window unit isn’t supervised.

The Solution

If you’re looking for the best solution, think of this: it’s better to have a unit (window or central) that will have a set thermostat temperature. Additionally, if the air conditioner is not necessary, then it’s best not to use it and shut it off before leaving the office. Finally, if it’s a cool, brisk day, keep the windows open — but make sure to shut them before you leave.

If you run into any problems with your home plumbing, heating or cooling, and prefer to forgo the DIY route, our technicians are here to help! Visit our website to learn more about the services that we offer here at Pipe Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc. — or you can call (865) 583-3957 to speak with a representative directly.