Based on that estimated range, you're looking at anywhere from $30 to $75 a month to run one window unit alone—and possibly even more if you live in an area with higher-than-average electricity costs. Keep in mind: Window AC units are designed to cool a small area only.
By comparison, AC Window Units use approximately 500 to 1,500 watts of electricity. Keep in mind that it takes more than one AC window unit to cool a home. You'll need one for each room of the house you want to reduce the temperature. Here's an ice cube for your glass!
While central air units are electrically more efficient, window units are cheaper overall, because you're not paying to cool rooms you're not using.
Typically, the cost of a central air conditioner is higher than the average cost to run a window AC unit, which is $0.06 per hour to $0.88 per hour at the national average of $0.13 kWh. That price assumes that the homeowner uses their window unit for eight hours a day.
Cooling yourself with a fan vs. an air conditioner is significantly more energy efficient and cheaper. Fans use around 1% of the electricity consumed by air conditioners. You could leave a fan running for 24 hours and still use less energy than 15 minutes of air conditioning.
In fact, they can run for years if they are properly maintained. However, leaving a window AC unit running nonstop could reduce its overall efficiency and lifespan if not used smartly.
You should place outward-facing fans on the warmer side of your home to blow the hot air out and inward-facing fans on the cooler side to draw cool air in, says Barry Jacobs, vice president of product development at Comfort Zone, a home environment product company.
They're less efficient than central AC and will drastically increase your electricity bills. On average it costs 52 cents per day for a 5,000 BTU window unit and $1.14 per day for a 12,000 BTU unit. It's hard to prevent any gaps and drafts with window AC units. Some cold air will leak out of the gaps in the window.
Best AC Temperature Settings While You Are Home
As you consider the most comfortable room temperature for your lifestyle and family, keep in mind that for each degree that you set your thermostat above 72 degrees, you can save up to 3% on your energy bill.
The biggest determinant in how long you should run your AC is whether your home uses central air or a wall/window unit. In general, wall and window air conditioning units with smaller capacities can typically run for up to eight hours at a time before they need to rest.
Split ACs are ideal for larger rooms and offer quieter operation but require professional installation and higher upfront costs. Window ACs are easier to install and more cost-effective but are noisier and less efficient.
Utilize Curtains or Blinds to Block Sunlight
During the hot summer months, one effective way to increase the energy efficiency of your window air conditioner is by utilizing curtains or blinds to block sunlight. This simple yet effective method can help keep your room cool and reduce the strain on your AC unit.
“By turning it off, you're making your A/C go full-throttle every single time it's turned on, and that gobbles up much more electricity than just maintaining the desired temperature.” For most households, a strategy called “temperature setbacks” is the most effective way to cut costs, pros say.
The constant running of your AC unit will reduce pressure in the evaporator, or cooling coil until it freezes over, according to Cool Today. This is why in some cases, this constant running can be dangerous. The freezing of the coil can cause liquid refrigerant to flood back into the unit's compressor and damage it.
Heating and cooling: 45-50%
The largest electricity consumer in the average household is your heating and cooling appliance. By a long shot. Central air conditioners and heaters use tons of energy in order to keep your home set to the right temperature.
If you're trying to cool a single room, a window unit saves you money compared to central air. However, if you're trying to cool an entire building, running multiple window units is inefficient. In some cases, running many window ac can be more expensive than a central air conditioning system.
When possible, set your thermostat to at least 78º F in the summer to reduce the difference between outdoor and indoor temperatures as much as possible. You can save six to eight percent on your electric bill for every degree your thermostat is raised above 78º F in the summer, according to Smart Energy.
While ENERGY STAR suggests 82 degrees, that may be too uncomfortable for most families. Most people sleep better when their sleeping area is chilly, so that's why the National Sleep Foundation advises 60–67 degrees.
For many of us, 70 degrees is the ideal indoor temperature, but when it is close to 100 degrees outside, your AC unit will be working quite hard to meet these expectations. Consider setting your thermostat at 75 degrees to 80 degrees in your home if the outside temperature is approaching triple digits.
In a midsize window air conditioner, you'll draw approximately 900 watts per hour and use nearly 130 to 150 kilowatt-hours of electricity each month.
While it's safe to leave the AC running all night. But you must take care of how much energy it consumes or if the cool and comfortable air is spreading equally throughout the room. If you are running your AC for long periods of time then try to keep your home ventilated by turning on a fan.
Air conditioner usage varies based on the size of your AC. However, generally speaking, a central air conditioner will consume between 3000 and 3500 watts per hour. While window units use between 900 and 1440 watts per hour, portable units consume between 2900 and 4100.
Can I leave my window fan in the window when it rains? All window fans have an enclosed motor which will allow you to use your fan safely when it is raining. However, we advise that you remove your product from the window during heavy inclement weather as powerful winds could blow water into your home.