Buzz
Air conditioners, refrigerators, misting fans, electric fans,... are indispensable cooling devices for every Vietnamese family when the weather turns hot. However, how to use them effectively to save electricity is not something everyone knows.
1. How long should you use an air conditioner each day to ensure health and save electricity?
Many families still cling to the 'use it to the max' mindset, with the air conditioner running day and night, and the fan likewise. However, in reality, using electrical appliances in this manner not only causes them to quickly malfunction, incurs maintenance costs, but also does not improve cooling efficiency, or even poses health risks.
So how should air conditioners, air conditioners be used, and for how long each day to both ensure cooling and save electricity, avoiding breakdowns due to overload? Please refer to the information below.
What is the ideal temperature?
Many families are accustomed to setting the temperature at 22-23 degrees Celsius, or even the lowest level (usually 15-16 degrees Celsius), and if feeling cold, they wrap themselves in blankets to sleep more comfortably. However, in reality, lying on a mattress, wrapping oneself in a blanket, and setting the air conditioner at extremely low temperatures is very wasteful. Just increasing the temperature by about 1 degree Celsius can save up to 7-10% of electricity consumption.
Therefore, to adapt to Vietnam's climate, households should set the air conditioner at 27-28 degrees Celsius, or even 29 degrees Celsius at night, which will help maximize electricity savings without significantly affecting health.
It should be noted that on extremely hot days, if the room temperature is set too low and there is frequent going in and out, it will cause heat imbalance, leading to colds or even heat shock.
Should you turn on the fan when using air conditioning?
This is a question that many households wonder about, whether turning on the fan when using the air conditioner consumes more electricity or saves electricity. In reality, the answer depends more on the conditions of the room, such as whether your room is directly exposed to sunlight, whether it is located under the roof, whether it is spacious, and whether there are many objects obstructing airflow.
However, in general, turning on the fan when using the air conditioner is reasonable and does not consume more electricity. The reason is that the fan helps circulate cool air in the room better, cooling areas with hot air, thereby reducing the workload for the air conditioner.
Even though air conditioners with evaporative cooling pads and fans help circulate cool air widely, their airflow and range cannot match that of electric fans, especially ceiling fans. Therefore, it's advisable to use a combination of air conditioning and electric fans at all times to optimize the capabilities of both.
How many hours a day should you use an air conditioner?
The actual usage frequency of air conditioning depends largely on the outdoor weather conditions. On scorching days, with temperatures reaching 39, 40 degrees Celsius like the recent heatwaves, you might need to run the air conditioner for 15-20 hours a day. On cooler days, the frequency could decrease to 8-10 hours depending on the conditions.
To address the question of whether it's okay to run the air conditioner continuously for 24/7 on extremely hot days or if it needs breaks, experts in the field of refrigeration and air conditioning say: 'It's necessary to differentiate between inverter air conditioners and traditional ones, which aren't inverters.'
Inverter air conditioners can run continuously from startup to shutdown. Traditional non-inverter air conditioners, on the other hand, have cycles of running and resting (meaning they run continuously but with rest periods). On excessively hot days, non-inverter air conditioners can work 24/7. However, continuous operation reduces the lifespan of the unit. Rest periods undoubtedly prolong the unit's lifespan.
Therefore, it's advisable to take advantage of cooler times like early mornings or rainy periods to switch off the air conditioner and allow the unit to rest.
It's important to note that using the air conditioner for too long, whether for adults or children, is not advisable. It's not recommended to have the air conditioner on while sleeping for more than 5 hours as it can negatively affect health.
Should you turn off the air conditioner every time you leave the room?
Although it's not recommended to use the air conditioner continuously for long periods, you should also not turn it off when leaving the room for a few minutes. The reason is that the most strenuous phase for the unit is at the beginning, when it needs to cool down an entire hot and stuffy room.
This holds true when the outdoor temperature is very high, as even turning off the air conditioner for just 5-10 minutes can significantly alter the room temperature, and when turned back on, the air conditioner has to cool from scratch at its highest capacity.
Considerations when using air conditioning for pregnant women and newborns
For newborns, the ideal temperature is around 28 - 30 degrees Celsius. Older infants may prefer slightly lower temperatures. This also applies to pregnant women, as setting the temperature too low can have adverse effects on health.
In addition, users should also consider using a fan to promote air circulation. However, if there are newborns present, avoid direct exposure to the fan. The room should also not have excessively high humidity, and especially avoid using humidifiers, misting fans,... in air-conditioned rooms. Simply placing a bowl of water in the room or hanging a damp towel will suffice.
