Originally Posted by TexasHuntress
Originally Posted by GomerPyle
Originally Posted by Stickers
I have always heard the A?C can only lower the outside ambient air temp by about 20 degrees, no matter how low the thermostat is...Anyone else heard this?
Point being - if it is 96/ outside with 105 degree heat index it isn't going to be able to cool below 20 degrees from outside temp.....
No expert- not an HVAC guy, just passing along...

I've heard that too....in fact the news was pitching that same crap this morning, as part of their story where they were suggesting, on behalf of APCO, that everyone crank their AC up to 78-80.

But weather here says it's 99 and the temp on my truck and MrsGomer's car both said 101 (I know those aren't especially accurate, but it appears they're close in this case), and yet my AC is consistently keeping it 69 in my house. A house which, by the way, gets virtually no shade throughout the day and is all brick.

Take that for what it's worth.


Great insulation helps for sure with the temperature inside and what one can maintain.

And that may be what it is in my case....I know the attic is insulated extremely well and I'll assume the exterior walls are as well. My AC unit is like 16yrs old so it's not exactly new by any means. Our last house, though, got direct sunlight all afternoon and even though it was off-white vinyl siding instead of brick, it struggled to keep it at 78-79 during the summer....which jives with the 20* thing...........so yeah, maybe insulation is the difference maker

Isaiah 5:20