Best Temperature for Your AC in the Summer

When the sweltering summer heat hits, everyone scrambles to the nearest thermostat to get the cold air flowing. But the right air conditioner setting isn’t just about staying comfortable. It’s also about energy efficiency and lowering your utility bills. So, what’s the magic temp? The answer depends on your specific requirements and the time of day. Explore the ideal air conditioner temperatures when you’re at home, out as well as when you are sleeping.

The Best AC Temperature When You’re at Home

The suggested daytime, at-home temperature for a home’s air conditioner is 78 degrees. This amount may seem very high, but the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) states it balances comfort and energy efficiency. Here are some tips to help stay comfortable at 78 degrees:

• • Use fans: Whether it is a ceiling fan or a desk fan, moving air will make the room feel about 4 degrees cooler. Plus, fans cost pennies on the dollar to use compared to your AC.

• • Dress lightly: What you have on significantly impacts your comfort level. Wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothes made of breathable fabrics helps you keep cool in the summer.

• • Block out the sun: Sunlight streaming through the windows can easily heat a room a lot. To stop your home from becoming a greenhouse, hang curtains or blinds to block out the sun, particularly during the peak afternoon hours.

• • Stay hydrated: Water intake plays a significant part in managing your body temperature. Avoiding dehydration enhances your body’s natural cooling processes.

• • Cook smart: Cooking produces a surprising amount of heat, forcing your air conditioner to work harder, so don’t use the oven or stove during the hottest part of the afternoon. Instead, use the microwave, prepare cold meals on hot days or grill out on the porch of patio until the weather cools off.

The Best AC Temperature While You’re Away

The DOE advises setting the temperature back 7 to 10 degrees when you’re not going to be home for eight hours, which can save up to 10 percent on your cooling expenses. Installing a programmable thermostat is the quickest strategy to save without relinquishing comfort.

This improvement allows you to automatically change the temperature at different times of the day or week depending on your schedule, lowering your energy bills without sacrificing comfort. The trick is to utilize your programmable thermostat in the correct way. Here are some guidelines for harnessing its full capabilities:

• • Set it and forget it: Set up your thermostat to automatically turn the temperature up about half an hour or so before you leave for work or school in the morning. Then, time the recovery period so a comfortable temperature resumes when you walk in the door when you get home.

• • Use the vacation setting: If you’re away from home for several days, use the “vacation” or “permanent” hold to use the “away” temperature for days at a time. This avoids excessive heat and humidity buildup without needlessly using energy to cool an empty house.

• • Make gradual adjustments: Your air conditioning system works the best at consistent speeds. Plus, a significant 10-degree drop doesn’t actually cool your home more rapidly. If you need to, decrease the temperature by only one degree and switch on a fan or remove a layer of clothing to help you feel more comfortable.

• • Leverage smart capabilities: If you have a smart thermostat, capitalize on its programming capability and extra features. Some designs can learn from your behaviors and change the temperature accordingly or be controlled remotely for exceptional comfort and convenience.

The Best AC Temperature When You’re Sleeping

When it’s time for bed, the DOE suggests setting the temperature 4 degrees higher than your usual setting. However, lots of people find it hard to sleep in a warm room. This makes achieving the right sleep temperature a real challenge. Thankfully, you can use several techniques to beat the heat while you drift off to sleep:

• • Sleep in lightweight pajamas and breathable bed sheets: Just like your daytime attire, your choice of night clothes affects how hot or cold you feel. Your bed sheets also influence your comfort level. In both cases, light and breathable cotton is the better solution.

• • Run a fan: Just like during the day, a fan can create a cool breeze in your bedroom in the evening, making sleep more comfortable.

• • Open a window: If it gets cooler at night, make the most of this by sleeping with the windows open.

• • Take a warm shower before bed: It may sound odd, but a warm shower truly cools you down better than a cold shower. It works by increasing your blood circulation, bringing heat to the surface of your skin, where it radiates away more rapidly.

Schedule AC Services this Summer in the U.S.

Striking a balance between indoor comfort and energy efficiency can be challenging. Why spend all summer guessing at the right AC temperatures when Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help you make the most of your system? Our high-quality, cost-effective AC services in the U.S. come with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, so you can choose us with complete confidence. Call 866-397-3787 today to schedule the top-notch services you need with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.