# To make the house colder in the summer... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 28, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545 "2006-06-28T21:15:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/1 "2006-06-28T21:15:55Z")
…turn the thermostat UP… or turn the thermostat DOWN. But wait, there’s more. what if you say… “Turn the air conditioner up in here!”, are you wanting to make it colder or warmer? Hmmmm? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/2 "2006-06-28T21:20:58Z")
Thermostat down since it’s a controler. Air conditioner up, as in give it a higher setting like max cool full fan. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/3 "2006-06-28T21:27:10Z")
And what if the AC is in Australia? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/4 "2006-06-28T21:30:31Z")
Turn the thermostat up to get warmer, or down to get colder. The thermostat references the temperature. OTOH, turn the AC up to get colder. Here you are increasing the amount of work the AC unit is doing, which cools the house faster. Inversely, you would turn the furnace down (or off) to get colder, reducing the amount of work it is doing. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/5 "2006-06-28T21:34:28Z")
It _is_ cold in here, now that you mention it. Hmm. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/6 "2006-06-28T21:35:53Z")
> [@Winston Smith](#): > > It _is_ cold in here, now that you mention it. Hmm. Hey! Leave that thermostat alone! It just got comfortable in here. Put a sweater on if yer cold. SHEESH! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/7 "2006-06-28T21:40:11Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > Hey! Leave that thermostat alone! It just got comfortable in here. Put a sweater on if yer cold. SHEESH! And stop flipping that unmarked lightswitch on and off! My friend in Brasil just called; it’s upsetting her dogs something horrid! ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/8 "2006-06-28T22:04:31Z")
Also, decide what you want before you open the fridge door and just stand there for ten minutes! Electricity don’t grow on trees ya know! ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/9 "2006-06-28T22:07:30Z")
Don’t judge me! I do what I want! _runs away, but not before flinging the fridge and freezer doors open and cranking the knob to “11”_ You don’t know me! ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/10 "2006-06-28T22:13:17Z")
> [@Least Original User Name Ever](#): > > Don’t judge me! > > I do what I want! > > _runs away, but not before flinging the fridge and freezer doors open and cranking the knob to “11”_ > > You don’t know me! Young man! Don’t you leave this house without a properly pressed and starched shirt. **DO YOU HEAR ME!** ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/11 "2006-06-28T22:15:55Z")
_Stops and looks back. Rolls around on the lawn, making sure to crinkle with extreme prejudice_ ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/12 "2006-06-28T22:21:35Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > And what if the AC is in Australia? It’s the middle of winter, so turn the air conditioner off. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/13 "2006-06-28T22:22:45Z")
> [@Least Original User Name Ever](#): > > _Stops and looks back. Rolls around on the lawn, making sure to crinkle with extreme prejudice_ I want a picture of that. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/14 "2006-06-28T22:26:15Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > I want a picture of that. Hm. Lemme work on it. Gotta see if there’s a dirty button down shirt laying around that can get harshly crinkled. …then I’ve gotta explain it to the female birth giver. …You don’t know me! ---
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/15 "2006-06-28T22:39:47Z")
What the HECK? My incredibly well thought out and enlightening thread has been hijacked!!! How dare you sully the importance of my crown jewel thread such the likes has never been seen!!! And IN OR OUT!!! Choose one! I’m not made of money!!! ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/16 "2006-06-28T22:44:37Z")
He did it! _points at **swampy** _ ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/17 "2006-06-28T22:50:08Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > And what if the AC is in Australia? Turn it upside down after flipping the fan blade so it sucks instead of blows. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/18 "2006-06-28T22:55:46Z")
I turn the AC _on_, never _up_. Then I turn the thermostat _down_ to decrease the temperature. I might actually turn it _up_ if it gets too cold, but the AC is still just _on_. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/19 "2006-06-28T23:17:21Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > I turn the AC _on_, never _up_. Then I turn the thermostat _down_ to decrease the temperature. I might actually turn it _up_ if it gets too cold, but the AC is still just _on_. Dammit! I said leave that thermostat alone! Put on a sweater if you’re cold! If you’re too hot, then, ummm… take that sweater off! It’s summer. What kind of fool wears a sweater in the summer! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545/20 "2006-06-28T23:19:39Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > Electricity don’t grow on trees ya know! What does it grow on then? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-make-the-house-colder-in-the-summer/362545.md?page=2)