Opening a Window With AC Turned On

An open window allows fresh air to come inside, and your air conditioning system keeps the house cool. Why not open a window and run the air conditioner at the same time?

Leaving your windows open results in your AC system needing to run continuously, dramatically shortening its lifespan. AC systems are installed with a load in mind related to the size of your home. When you leave windows open, you increase the load. Your AC system has to work much harder to maintain the temperature you set on the thermostat as cool air escapes out the open windows.

It’s Effects:

Letting In Hot And Humid Air

Opening a window might not be the best strategy on a hot day. All that extra heat and humidity will come inside the home and undermine the comfort level. Of course, running the air conditioner will help to address the problem but at a great cost. This is literally true. Your energy consumption will increase drastically, and your utility bill will inevitably go up as the air conditioner works harder and harder to bring down the temperature.

Putting A Strain On The System

The open window means that the system has to work a lot harder to cool down the home. In a way, an HVAC system shares some similarities with a car. If you put 100,000 miles on a car, you can expect parts to wear out and repair bills to pile up. Straining the HVAC system by forcing it to battle with an open window to cool your home won’t be kind to its components. Repairs may become unavoidable as parts wear out. You’ll also be shortening the system’s overall lifespan.

Far Less Energy Efficiency

Any plans to improve energy efficiency will surely suffer. Just as warm air comes into the home, cold air goes out. Cool air exits the vents and travels around the house, and when it reaches the open window, it’s headed outside. From an energy-efficiency perspective, there is nothing beneficial to that approach.