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Hello all,
I am planning on installing an airconditioning unit in my apartment soon…
I would like to know if any of you guys installed a form of meter so that there wont be any one leaving the apartment with the AC on all day long. I Found some meters which give you for example 4 hours usage and then if you would like more time you buy “Extra Credits”
Your comments would be appreciated 
Are you planning to charge over X amount of hours if guest is using it?
Honestly, I get people leave it on all the time and even though it’s in the House Rules, what am I going to do? Charge them $6 for 6 hours of leaving it on?
Add it to be included as a part of your total daily and move on. It will make you feel better not to deal with it as well.
Yes I know its bad and to be honest I dont like the idea also, BUT my friend just got a shock when he got his electricity bill… Apparently they left the Air conditioner on 24/7 for 6 days… Another one didnt have an air conditioner installed in his appartment and the guests apparently put on the oven on maximum heat and opened the oven door to heat up the room. These are one off examples but I dont want to get bitten like the other ones thats all and its hard to quantify and add to the daily rate.
Look at Smart devices like Xiaomi Air Conditioning Companion, you can combine devices using their Gateway to create a system with a movement/body sensor and perhaps a door/window sensor and temperature sensor. Then create a rule on your phone to switch the AC off when there are no people in the room after x amount of time and if a window or door is opened. You can use the temperature sensor to monitor the temperature and adjust it accordingly if the guests set it too low for example.
The only drawback is that the plugs are Chinese standard so you need some sort of adaptor to go with the device.
Hi @tumasgts,
You don’t state your location, which is relevant to the question.
You can add an ordinary electric meter to your guest room circuit, maybe just the line going to the A/C. This is a low tech solution, and won’t allow you to control anything, but it will tell you whether your guests are leaving the A/C on when they go out. The meter displays a blinking red light if there is power consumption, and the heavier the power consumption. the more frequently it will blink. At which point you can either go in there and turn it off, or remind them to do so.
I’m located in India. Smart devices are hard to find here. This may also be the case in other places. If you happen to be located in the North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Western Europe or the UK, you probably have better options available to you.
Another option that has been discussed here is to have some form of card switch or key switch in the room that forces guests to turn off the electricity when they leave. But this only really works if the door locks uses the same card or key, and you only give them one card or key. Then they have to take out the card or key to lock the door, forcing them to turn the electricity off.
We’re missing info here. Your friend and you live at the same place where the electricity bill as THAT high?
How can you even monitor which guest left it on and for how long (unless the motor runs next to your house). If at all, I’d get a clock that you can restart every-time a new host is checking-in so they can SEE their usage and there’s no “their version vs. your version”.
Start with guests who have a definite itinerary, who will be out most of the time. Purchase a new high efficiency air conditioner with a thermostat set to reasonable levels. Blackout curtains are inexpensive and easy to make, and they will cut down on heat buildup. Include turning off electrical appliances and keeping temperature at X level when home in your rules. I have 3 window bangers and they are less than half the price of central air.
You MUST visit your property more frequently to maintain it, check up on incidentals, and in all likelihood to comply with your homeowner’s insurance.
my air conditioner take a lot of electricity …
maybe it’s broken?
@Muller21QQQF , A/C units usually break when because the refrigerant gas leaks out. If it uses a lot of electricity, but doesn’t cool properly, it usually means there is refrigerant leak or the intake filter is very dirty. However, A/C units can use a lot of electricity because they are inefficient (e.g. a portable unit) or because the house/room is not well insulated, etc. What exactly do you need help with?