Thermostat settings

[Karen525]

I live in the Arizona desert by the Colorado River. Many guest leave for the day to work or play. Many guests turn the AC down to 65' or below for the night and do not set it higher when leaving. This is too much work for our AC in over 115-125' heat. What is a fair temp to lock in the thermostat at for guests to regulate. We keep ours at 80' when we are gone for the day, 78 when at home and 74 for the night. I want my guests to be comfortable, but the AC cannot cool to 65' when it is so hot out.  Any recommendations for a smart thermostat would be appreciated so I can turn the setting up from my phone. Thank you

[Diana2915 · Accepted solution]

hello @Karen525 , we live in Utah and we do heating and air conditioning and we have always told our customers to never turn the thermostat down to 65°. It makes the AC work too hard and it will actually ruin the air conditioner. It will ice up the lines and ruin it.  Also by turning off the air conditioner when you leave and then turning it back on again, makes it also work harder and cost more to run. We always tell our customers to leave the air conditioner at a certain temperature all day, and it will keep the house cool and then you are not playing catch-up.  some of the thermostats that we install for our customers is the nest thermostat. You can actually control that with your phone We also install ecobee thermostats. They’re also good one. I know that the natural gas company gives you a rebate for installing those thermostats in your home

[Marie8425]

@Diana2915 

I am Buckeye AZ so I know your pain.  lol

Most Guests are not from AZ so they don't understand 110 degree days, how to properly use central air equipment in our environment, or the issues if even 1 day your AC is not operable.

For me, that is too high a risk so my equipment is set on a schedule, taking usual occupancy, my electric peak and off peak rates and my AC company's advice about maintaining equipment and comfort.  I do not give Guests control because in AZ a possible serious financial burden.  I control from my phone.  Usually everyone is comfortable but Guests are told lets discuss if not and if someone is new usually first triple digit day I ask.  If someone is warm it is usually evening and my lowering 1 or 2 degrees works.  

[Snehal1]

I intend to use below @Marie8425 : 

Dear Guest,

Welcome, and thank you for choosing to stay at Mehta Cottage.

As you know, Gujarat summers can be quite hot, and we’ve provided air conditioning for your comfort. However, we kindly request you to use the AC responsibly:

• Please switch it off when you leave the room or the house.

• Keep doors and windows closed while the AC is on.

• Set the temperature between 24°C to 26°C for best cooling and energy efficiency.

Proper use not only helps us conserve energy but also ensures the system works reliably for everyone.

If you face any discomfort or need assistance, feel free to reach out. I’ll be happy to help.

Warm regards,

[Marie8425]

@Snehal1 

In total sincerity I too thought just an explanation would work.  Especially my market is MTR all single professionals.  For me it didn't, resulted in some close calls in proper use of equipment and in Arizona when 112 degrees if your AC breaks you are responsible for heat safety of any renters.  Financial impact in Arizona can be very high

[Marie8425]

@Snehal1 

Just another thing we noticed we were learning AZ weather also haha.  Very different from Hawaii lol.  When I stopped discussing behave with my AC I also have a lot less Guests discussing my AZ weather.  The house is comfortable not hot and not cold just average.  Sometimes we stir up ideas that our Guests don't even consider until we mention.

[Snehal1]

I agree,  Very true.   Some times I say due to some windy day in Monsoon, Main Power may fail and My back up Power is sufficient to run for 8 Hours.  Then they start asking, Are roads commutable in Rain.  Is there water logging.  My Villa is commutable is very heavy rains and no such issue.  But If I inform them they start asking many questions.

[Marie8425]

@Snehal1 

We are all humans and humans have imaginations.  I try and stir up the positive imaginations, my AC is powered by solar, 110 degrees means a lot of sun.  Rather then the negative imagination I have to tell you how not to abuse my system because you will be so uncomfortable hot you will behave abusive to it.

Presentation of the same information can make a world of difference.

[Marie8425]

@Snehal1 

Arizona is actually just starting our monsoon season.  Here is how I present " I am aware you may not be aware of a Monsoon Season.  We are very familiar with our seasons.  If you have any questions contacting us is welcome."  Rather then you are not familiar with this season so here are all the terrible things that might happen that may or may not impact you but just in case your forewarned I have protected myself from a refund.

[Lorna170]

@Karen525   We use NEST thermostats.  We can control the temperature via the App, but we can also set high/low parameters and day and night schedules.  

We are not in AZ, but our cooling temperature range in the summer is 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit.

[Karen114]

@Karen525  @Lorna170  I am in Florida and every summer is just a nightmare with the guests and AC.  We do use the nests and have high and low parameters. I could not imagine not having the Nest thermostats. 

One unit I did lose my connection to the Nest and don't live locally so could not set the high and low.    That AC had to be replaced after the guest called and said that water was leaking all over.  I imagine it was frozen from setting it too low in the high heat and humidity.  

I have guests that want to set the AC to 62 😭.  After this latest replacement and multiple requests for refrigeration vs AC, I have a trigger text go out to all new bookings that are arriving in the summer months letting them know  that Florida is hella hot in the summer.  Our AC's can't be set lower than 68 degrees and even setting at that set point when it's really hot out, it likely is not going to reach that temp.  If you feel this is going to be a problem for you, please contact me right away and we can get your booking cancelled. 

What I also do now is have a schedule set where during the hottest hours of the day the temp is a little higher like 73 and then goes down as bedtime nears.  They can still adjust on their own but this prevents them setting it at 68 and leaving for the beach all day.  

[Marie8425]

@Karen525 

In Arizona we have to have our AC company set haha.  My technicians were very helpful.  We have a schedule they helped plan based on estimated occupancy hours of my Guests my peak and off peak rates and best equipment maintenance. Changes to the temperature should not be a drastic change which requires a drastic equipment response.  My house has 3 thermostats for different areas regardless if occupied all zones should be within a few degrees of each other again to avoid a drastic mechanical reaction.

Most Guests have no idea the impact of a broken AC in Arizona.

[Vilma168]

Hi Karen! I have my property in St. Augustine, FL, and I had originally locked the thermostat at 68 minimum temp but got a complain last summer. Now I have it unlocked and I have had guests set it at 67. Would you mind sharing how you word your message for bookings explaining the potential issues from running the AC so low when it's really hot out? Also, when you say you have your NEST set at 68 minimum, do you mean you have it locked at that temp? I have a NEST also, which is why I ask. Thanks!

Vilma 

[Marie8425]

@Karen525 

A total funny.  A first for us.

I think May. we thought our Ac broken because we were freezing haha.  The living room during the day usually nobody but me was cooling to 60 degrees not our schedule lol.

My AC company is really good but I had to wait 3 days.  Turned out I had a Guest leaving his bedroom window open.  This raised the temperature in that zone of the house.  Central air system so the system was cooling all zones trying to combat the temperature increase in one zone.