Spent $200 on a cheap portable AC unit and my electric bill went up $50 a month

3 comments

3 Comments

Feel for you, I really do. I made the same mistake last summer, bought one of those window units from a big box store thinking it would save me money, and my bill shot up just like yours. It's so frustrating because you think you're being smart with your money and then you get that shock when the electric bill comes. I mean, maybe it's just me but those cheap units seem to work twice as hard and use way more power than they should. I ended up just using fans at night and accepting the heat during the day until I could save up for a better model. Hope you find a solution that works for you without breaking the bank further.

zara_hill4627d ago

Read somewhere that those cheaper window units don't have the same kind of compressor or insulation, so they run nonstop trying to keep up. Makes sense cause mine sounded like it was about to take off. A buddy of mine who does HVAC told me that the energy rating stickers on those things are often way off, like they test them in perfect conditions that never happen in a real house. Ended up switching to a portable unit with dual hoses and saw a drop right away, even though the thing cost more upfront.

linda_wood27d ago

@karen_hart Same here, cheap stuff just costs you more in the long run every time.