Use ( abuse ) of aircon

[EMM]

This is an exceptionally hot summer and I was wondering how other property owners control use of aircon.
We have been into our empty apartment ( guests out at the beach or shopping )and found the aircon turned down to the lowest possible temp, bathroom windows open ( even bedroom patio doors open , shutters closed ).
The aircon is in overdrive, trying to cool portugal.
We always turn it off but the message never gets across.

Are there systems that allow owners to programm, turn off air con remotely or preset them so they cannot be changed ( temp , hours used etc ).

I am convinced that we will all get record EDP bills this year plus many will have to replace /repair worn out over used aircon units.

[fmm]

It is a major problem. People have no concept of how to use the bloody things effectively.
Someone posted a link to a device that you can attach to your air con unit - try using the search facility and check out the device.

[sam]

We did consider aircon and were told that there were controls, but these were expensive. However, that was a long time ago, so probably much cheaper now.
We have had the opposite problem in some hotels. We leave the aircon off until we come back in, only to find the maid has been in and turned the aircon on, and the room is freezing.

[Polli62]

There is a device that you can use but I think it has to be programmed by the user, it turns the aircon off after a certain time when no-one is in the room. You can buy it in the UK at £49.00, another site shows it at 19 dollars.I have got the link somewhere on my other computer, will post it later if I can find it. I think but not 100% sure that the link to this device was posted on expatsfocus.com or expats portugal.com I think the poster was martin, does he post on this site?
just remebered the name of the website in UK it is ecosense http://www.ecosense.uk.com/

[Polli62]

This is the other web link, apparently they had a go with this product through the dragons den programme but was rejected, ithink

http://www.ipmart.com/main/product/ECOS ... rod=145032

[martin]

sadly I have seen the same problem, villa empty for a day and 2 x aircons units going at full blast

sadly most modern people have never heard of that 70s slogan "switch it off"

they pay lip service to energy green issues but in reality do nothing practical

[carvoeiro1]

I charge per unit of electricity anything over the 5 euros a day the villa should use normally. plus 50 Euros a week for the aircon.
Its amazing how more carefull peolple are when they paying for it. Plus I hold a 200Euros security deposit which is only returned after an inspections on the villa is done on there departure normally when they are about to leave.

[snaj1]

We have always rented villas with air-conditioning, a pre-requisite for our travelling companions.
We have been fortunate enough to rent properties whereby the charge for air-con has been waived (if not already included in the rental price)
As a consequence I ensure that if the air-con is on there had better be somebody in the room, and the windows and doors
are closed. If a villa owner has waived the charge or not, it sheer laziness and lack of respect for the villa owners to abuse
a facility by leaving it on all day, even when you're out.

Snaj1

[Rossi's idol]

Use of aircon - whilst we don't let our place, our usage is as follows:-
We switch it off during the day and open the doors/windows to create a through draught. We switch it on in the evening and through the night as we find it difficult to sleep without it.
We believe this is sensible usage.

[EMM]

We had lunch yesterday with friends who have and manage number of rental properties,
This has been a real problem this year, with units burning out working 24/7.

They have even been into apartments with the aircon on full blast but the guests have blankets on the beds as they are finding it cold at night with the aircon turned down low.
We found our set to 17 degrees !!!!