Energy Saver = Energy Waster!

Originally recorded August 20, 2017.

Does your air conditioner have an "energy saver" option? Those of you that have such a unit know that when the room has reached temperature, the entire unit will shut off, including the fan.

Turns out that actually isn't saving you anything! Consider the following points:
1. The best operation of your air conditioner is achieved on high. Unless you are looking for quieter operation, you should never turn the fan speed down on the air conditioner.
2. If the fan in your air conditioner on high uses, say, 90 watts, on medium it might only be 70 watts. That's a savings of 20 watts, and 20 watts equals savings on your electric bill, right? WRONG! With the fan not running as fast as it does on high, the refrigeration system of the air conditioner (read: the part that costs you the most money to run) has to work harder. The reason is because not only are you not expelling the cold air into the room as efficiently, you're also not expelling the hot air outside as efficiently. That means that the pressures in the refrigeration system increase. When the compressor tries to compress stuff that's quite compressed already, it pulls more current from the outlet to get the job done. That current, the same wattage you just "saved" will easily surpass the 20 watts saved running the fan slower.
3. On low, you might save yet an additional 20 watts. But once again, the compressor will pull more current, driving the electricity usage back up.
4. With the energy saver, you're shutting the fan off completely when the compressor shuts off. Without the fan drawing cool air in the room over the temperature sensor, it will sense warmer air sooner, causing the air conditioner to start up again. Another point to keep in mind is the evaporator (the "coils") right behind the temperature sensor aren't getting cold anymore because the compressor has shut off. Once that turns off, it will start warming up gradually. So now not only DON'T you have the benefit of the fan drawing cool air over the sensor, keeping the compressor off, you have coils that are slowly warming back up to room temperature and possibly beyond, warming the sensor into thinking the room is warm, which will turn the whole unit back on again.
5. The fan running in the air conditioner, after the compressor shuts off, is helping to circulate the cool air around the room, making it feel cooler.

This air conditioner depicted in the video stays running 24/7 during the cooling season, on high, day and night. The energy waster function is kept off. I've done a lot of testing of this phenomenon including using a wattmeter, and every time it holds true. Keep the energy waster function of your air conditioner off, and keep the fan on high. That will actually save you the most money during the cooling season.