[OmegaSupreme]

Originally Posted by airics

if you keep the ac cold on the off-hours... 1-7 won't increase that much... i keep it at 74 and then switch to 85 between 1 and 7. usually ends up around 79 or 80 at most...

i have saved a ton with time of use.

When was your house built? Which direction does it face?

My house gets much hotter. I wonder if I need more insulation or if there are air leaks or something.

Anyone else care to post if they also leave their ac off during 1-7 and what temps their house gets to

[bayview6]

I leave the AC off from 2 to 7 and the temperature gets to 79. That;s in August the high is 108.

[equid0x]

Originally Posted by OmegaSupreme

When was your house built? Which direction does it face?

My house gets much hotter. I wonder if I need more insulation or if there are air leaks or something.

Anyone else care to post if they also leave their ac off during 1-7 and what temps their house gets to

Insulation could well be part of it, although I would look for air leaks first. I recently cut some holes on the wall on the south side of the house to install some cabling, and I could not believe the volume of air blowing out of the holes I cut. Upon further investigation, I found the source of the air intrusion to be the pipe that runs through the stucco to the doorbell, of all things. I pulled it out and filled the pipe with caulk, problem significantly reduced.

I ran this same test to see if TOU would be good for me. My house would get to 81 after being cooled to 77 beforehand. Fairly tight, IMHO, but I suspect older houses wouldn't fare as well. Mine was built in 2003. The insulation in the 2x6 outside walls is the yellow stuff... maybe R4? nothing special. However, I do have a large amount of blown in insulation in the attic, and the reflective under-roofing stuff. i've stuck a thermometer in the attic (which is open to the outside BTW, several roof vents and a large wall vent) and it got to 121 in July.

[airics]

Originally Posted by OmegaSupreme

When was your house built? Which direction does it face?

My house gets much hotter. I wonder if I need more insulation or if there are air leaks or something.

Anyone else care to post if they also leave their ac off during 1-7 and what temps their house gets to

House built 2003 - original ac and heating units
Faces West
Lots of Windows
Tinted West Windows (moderate not super dark)
Sunscreen West Windows
Added insulation to attic
Just got my highest bill yet since using time of use $210
Average bill off season is around $50

almost 2800sf
3 Floors
pool with pentair variable speed pump

[lvmensch]

One simple thing is to stick your head in the attic every once in a while.

Had an inspection on a small townhouse a couple of weeks ago. It was 80 degrees or so in the attic on a warm day. Both of the AC distribution boxes were leaking badly.

[bayview6]

Some of the houses in the Valley are built without attic ventilation, that is, the insulation is directly underneath the roof and the attic is cooled or heated by the duct system.

[OmegaSupreme]

Originally Posted by lvmensch

One simple thing is to stick your head in the attic every once in a while.

except when there is no attic access

[lvmensch]

Originally Posted by OmegaSupreme

except when there is no attic access

That would be pretty rare. And in that case there is no AC equipment in the attic.

Don't think I have seen that in Vegas though I can think of configurations where it could happen.

[WestieJeff]

I have my AC off from 1-7. I usually pre-cool down to 74 or 75 (it's difficult to get it lower in the summer daytime at my house). By 7pm it will be up around 85 or 86 during August.

Originally Posted by OmegaSupreme

When was your house built? Which direction does it face?

My house gets much hotter. I wonder if I need more insulation or if there are air leaks or something.

Anyone else care to post if they also leave their ac off during 1-7 and what temps their house gets to

[SportyandMisty]

Originally Posted by bayview6

Some of the houses in the Valley are built without attic ventilation, that is, the insulation is directly underneath the roof and the attic is cooled or heated by the duct system.

That's what I have. I believe its called "cocoon insulation" but better to be described as a method of installing the insulation rather than the insulation itself. In my case, it is closed-cell foam insulation both on the exterior and the interior of the roof (flat roof).