A/c vs humidistat

[raynitsche]

Everyone helped me on the surge protector so I have one new and final question.

We leave The Villages for the summer. I would like to know which is better? Leaving the A/C set at 82 degrees or having a humidistat installed? I've head it both ways but only because that is what they have done or been told. Thanks

[asianthree]

We have ours at 82 but with the humidistat the air is set at 82 and the heat is 55 no matter what the weather it is taken care of. Dead of summer bill was
$47:MOJE_whot:

[rjm1cc]

No scientific data but I would think the humidistat would be better (lower operating costs for AC) as you are trying to control the amount of moisture in the air.

[chuckinca]

We leave the AC on at 83.

Last summer the bills were all in the mid $40's

Couple years ago they were around $20

U pays your money and makes Ur choice.


.

[Sail41]

When we first bought our condo in So Fla, Fla Power and Light recommended a programable thermostat over the humidstat. We left our unit here for 4 to 5 mos in the summer. The setting is 81 or 82 during the day, but at 2AM the AC is programed to run for 1 to 2 hour(you preference) at 70 degrees. This removed the humidity from the unit. We have never had a problem. Our bill is about $20/mo and we have 1400 Sq Ft. We are at our Village house frequently enough that we just leave the thermostat at 81 and it's fine.

[ijusluvit]

Friend had a humidistat installed and said the contractor assured him he would save enough money to pay for it in a few years. I called my guy, Chuck Farrell (the very best local company IMO), and asked him to install one for me. He said it would take at least twenty years to recoup the original cost of a humidistat plus installation. Three years later, my friend is a little embarrassed that his summer bills with a humidistat are the same as they were when he formerly just set the AC to 84.

[jimbo2012]

two links one here (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/electric-bill-w-humidistat-32321/) at TV before and wiring it (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/wiring-dehumidistat-22816/)

Also this article (http://www.lcec.net/tips/brochures/Vacant%20Summer%20Homes.pdf)

They sell for about $25 and wiring explanation is a piece of cake.

It should save money, I would shut the fridge off that eats a bit of elec.

[graciegirl]

When we returned to Ohio in the summer when we were snowbirds we set the air on 83..that is what the contractor who put it in said to do.We opened all closets and some people open drawers, we didn't. We had the paper stopped.

We left unopened cereal. Put sugar and flour in the fridge. Gave away all opened stuff in the pantry or threw it out

We turned off the water and the circuit breaker for the water heater.. We had motion lights in the back. We brought in our lanai furniture. We did not cover toilets. We did not turn off refrigerator, or turn off the ice maker. We did not open dishwasher.

We didn't have anybody to come in and check. The neighbors had the key and one time when we were gone in December they came in and turned off the air and turned on the heat when it was near 32 degrees.

They also entered our home before we returned without our asking and put in milk and a sweet roll for our breakfast and a welcome home note and turned up the air..We know if there had been a power outage for any length of time, they would have taken stuff out of freezer.



I think I am forgetting something.

When we returned we would find spider webs under the kick boards in kitchen and in the corners. The vac made short work of them. Sometimes we would find a few tiny ants in the bathrooms and Deans came out right away and sprayed their trails and put down traps...gone.

[raynitsche]

Could I have the name and number for your neighbor with the sweet rolls? Is it necessary to remove the patio set from the lanai? Thanks

[chuckinca]

We always take the lanai furniture inside when we are gone.

.

[OpusX1]

We have a programable thermostat. Our air is set for 87 during the day and 84 from 11:00 PM until 7:00 AM. Doing that makes sure the unit runs everyday and dries and circulates the air. Our bills run around $25-$35 a month. We also put a canister of damp rid in each bath. This seems to work very well. We have friends that use a humid-stat and they are happy with that and their bills run about the same so I guess it's whatever floats your boat. :jester:

[jimbo2012]

We did not turn off refrigerator,

Why?

It cost $7-15 a month depending on size.

GE recommends turning it off, doors open.

It has to shorten its operating life.

I would also shut the hot water heater off.

[borjo]

Ray, the lanai furniture should be put inside if there is a tropical storm or hurricane so it doesn't fly around, rip your screens and create a danger to the neighbors property if it's airborne.

[George Bieniaszek]

We have a CYV and installed a humidistat when we are not in TV during the summer. I believe that it saves us approx $30-40 per month during the hot summer months on AC costs. Mold is your enemy!! Keeping the AC set at 80-82ish will combat the potential mold issue very well, but you pay for it. The humidistat will comtrol the AC unit and turn it on when the humidity in the home gets to a pre-set level so your AC unit will not turn on as regularly, only when needed. The humidistat cost us approx $100 thru Munn's so I figure that we broke even very quickly in savings.

[raynitsche]

Ray, the lanai furniture should be put inside if there is a tropical storm or hurricane so it doesn't fly around, rip your screens and create a danger to the neighbors property if it's airborne.

Thanks, never have gone through a hurricane I didn't know if the material in the lanai would be effected by the high winds.

[iaudit]

Here is an article recommending not using a dehumidistat in Florida.

Myhousetenders News (http://www.myhousetenders.com/mt/index.html)

[bonrich]

Second house, second humidistat installed by Munns.

Set the humidistat at 60% and the A/C at 78 degrees and fan on auto. That way, if the humidity level goes above 60% (humidity is bad) then the A/C is turned on. Once the level drops below the 60% setting, the humidistat turns off the A/C. The house may be hot in the summer but if the A/C is not needed it will stay off, thereby saving you some money on the monthly bill.

Also, it was recommended to us to turn off the breaker on the hot water tank, run the hot water through and replace it with cooler water, and then turn off your interior water supply, if you want too. We were told if we left the hot water in the tank for a extended period of time it would have a "skunky" smell when turned back on.

Also, we bought "Dry-Rid" at Walmart. There are 3 bags in a package, and we hang them in our closets if we leave clothes in there. Be surprised to see how much water is collected in these bags during the months when not there!

[jimbo2012]

I agree with that plan :thumbup:

Only add the fridg off.

[jimbo2012]

dup deleted

[lovesports]

We have bought two homes in the Villages. We had two different inspectors and they both said a humidistat is useless. Our first home we were snowbirds and used 83 setting when we up North in the summer and had very low bills.
Second home has both A/C and a humidistat. Both were put in by Munn's. Our inspector also said the humidstst was useless and to leave it on O. Again we have very low bills.
As a side note, our inspector also told us two more things that they love to sell you with a good sales pitch that really don't work.
Putting vents in your garage door when all the heat is about the door. Putting in an attic fan.

I won't argue anyone who believes otherwise. I'm just repeating what inspectors have told me.

[jimbo2012]

No argument but......

That assumes the "inspector" is correct ?

I don't think selling DE-humidistat (not humidistat, is that what the inspector called it?) is going to make anyone rich at $100 including the service call & labor.

[raynitsche]

Thanks for all the answers and help. I won't post the question about abortion.

[Barefoot]

Only add the fridg off.

Our appliance guy told us NOT to turn off the fridge. He said the door seals would dry out. He told us to turn the fridge on low, it costs about $8 per month. We store any canned food, bottles of water or wine, unopened jars of peanut butter and stuff, etc., in the fridge. Each to his own!

[jimbo2012]

Every year when we travel for over a month or go to FL for the winter we have turned the fridg off, no problem with seals?

But you got me concerned when you said your appliance guy said otherwise.

If you do a search for refrigerator vacation settings you will see
Do a search for refridgerator vacation setting.

GE recomends it Refrigerator - Vacation Settings (http://www.geappliances.com/search/fast/infobase/10000335.htm)
As does Subzero, Frigidaire as others

Don't forget how long it was in the warehouse b4 you bought it.

If the air conditioning is turned off or set at a higher than usual temperature, the efficiency of the freezer decreases as the temperature in your home increases. The hotter your home becomes, the higher the number of hours your freezer will run.

It is not unusual for a manual-defrosting refrigerator to run twice as much as usual, due to the higher temperatures in your home. Self-defrosting refrigerators may run an additional 20 to 30 percent.

To prevent the build up of odours and mildew forming when you are away, clean the inside just before you leave with a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar, not forgetting to scrub the door gaskets, shelves, sides and door.

:highfive:

[Tom Hannon]

Also, if away for a long time, have a neighbor run the dish washer once a month. (Rinse cycle will work). Otherwise the seals on door will dry out. It happened to me in NY.