Best Temperature for Your AC in the Summer

When the sweltering summer heat arrives, everyone hustles to the nearest thermostat to get the cold air flowing. But the right air conditioning temp isn’t just about keeping comfortable. It’s also about energy efficiency and decreasing your power costs. So, what’s the secret temp? The answer is based on your specific requirements and the time of day. Explore the optimal air conditioning temperatures when you’re at home, away and when you are sleeping.

The Best AC Temperature When You’re at Home

The suggested daytime, at-home temperature for a residence’s air conditioning is 78 degrees. This amount may seem surprisingly high, but the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) says it balances comfort and energy efficiency. Here are a couple of tips to help stay nice and cool at 78 degrees:

• • Use fans: Whether you’re using a ceiling fan or a desk fan, moving air actually makes the room feel about 4 degrees cooler. Plus, fans cost a surprisingly small amount of money to run compared to your air conditioner.

• • Dress lightly: What you wear drastically impacts your comfort level. Dressing in light-colored, loose-fitting clothes made of breathable fabrics can help you be cool during the summer months.

• • Block out the sun: Sunlight radiating through the windows can heat a room significantly. To keep your home from becoming a greenhouse, pull out the curtains or blinds to block out the sun, especially during the peak afternoon hours.

• • Stay hydrated: Water consumption has a significant part in regulating your body temperature. Avoiding dehydration boosts your body’s self-cooling processes.

• • Cook smart: Cooking creates considerable heat, forcing your HVAC system to work harder, so don’t use the oven or stove during the hot afternoon. Instead, make use of the microwave, prepare cold meals on hot days or grill out on the porch of patio until the weather gets cooler.

The Best AC Temperature While You’re Away

The DOE recommends setting the temperature back 7 to 10 degrees when you’re going to be out of the house for eight hours, a strategy experts say can save up to 10 percent on your cooling costs. Installing a programmable thermostat is the simplest method to save without sacrificing comfort.

This technology allows you to automatically adjust the temperature at different times of the day or week based on your schedule, lowering your energy bills without sacrificing comfort. The important part is to make use of your programmable thermostat correctly. Here are some recommendations for making sure you’re using its full power:

• • Set it and forget it: Schedule your thermostat to automatically turn the thermostat up to your away temperature about half an hour or so before you leave for work or school in the morning. Then, program the schedule so a comfortable temperature resumes when you walk in the door in the evening.

• • Use the vacation setting: If you’re not going to be home for an extended period, use the “vacation” or “permanent” hold to keep the “away” temperature for days at a time. This stops extreme heat and humidity buildup without needlessly using energy to run your air conditioner in an empty house.

• • Make gradual adjustments: Your air conditioning system works most efficiently at steady speeds. Plus, a big 10-degree drop won’t cool your home any faster. If you need to, decrease the temperature by only one degree and start up a fan or remove a layer of clothing to help you feel more comfortable.

• • Leverage smart capabilities: If you choose a smart thermostat, make the most of its programming capability and extra features. Some models can learn from your behaviors and adapt the temperature accordingly or be controlled remotely for outstanding comfort and convenience.

The Best AC Temperature When You’re Sleeping

When it’s time to head off to bed, the DOE recommends setting the temperature 4 degrees higher than your usual setting. However, a number of people find it hard to sleep in a hot and stuffy room. This makes finding the ideal sleep temperature a struggle. Thankfully, you can try several strategies to beat the heat while you are trying to sleep:

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

• • Run a fan: As it does during the day, a fan can create a cool breeze in your bedroom at night, making sleep more comfortable.

• • Open a window: If it cools off at night, take advantage of this by going to bed with the windows open.

• • Take a warm shower before bed: It may sound strange, but a warm shower truly cools you down faster than a cold shower. It does this by boosting your blood circulation, bringing heat to the surface of your skin, where it radiates away faster.

Schedule AC Services this Summer in the U.S.

Balancing your home’s comfort and energy efficiency can be challenging. Why spend all summer guessing at the ideal 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. are supported by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, so you can choose us with absolute confidence. Call 866-397-3787 today to schedule the premium services you need with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.