What Is the Ideal Temperature for Home Air Conditioning in the Summer?
Summer brings the heat, allowing you to ditch the winter coat and spend more time outside. After a long day at the beach or the zoo, you want to come home to a comfortable, air-conditioned home that gets you cool quickly. You also don’t want to make your home so cool that you unnecessarily reduce the efficiency of your unit. We will teach you the ideal temperature for home air conditioning to keep you comfortable without hurting your wallet.
You have two main situations to consider when determining the ideal temperature for a while at home and temperature while away.
Temperature While at Home
The temperature setting that affects you the most is the temperature setting when you and your family are at home. Most people consider 78 degrees the best setting to ensure cool air while also keeping the unit efficient.
During the night, outside temperatures drop significantly, and your body temperature lowers. Consider raising the temperature to 80 or 81 degrees at night.
If you had the temperature set much lower and want to adjust to the recommended 78 degrees in an effort to lower your utility bills, go at it gradually. Change the temperature one degree higher every couple of days until you get to the setting you want to avoid shocking the system.
Temperature When Away
You don’t need your home so cool when you leave for work or go on vacation, so you can set the thermostat to a higher temperature. Try a setting of 88 degrees.
Why not just turn the AC off when you leave? Well, your air conditioner not only cools your home but also removes excess humidity. Humidity can lead to mold and pests, so you want the air conditioner on to continue to act as a dehumidifier. You will also cool your home faster when you return, increasing your family’s comfort levels.
Programmable Thermostat
Changing temperatures throughout the day can fall through the cracks, especially when you have an extremely busy day or wake up late. Install a programmable thermostat that will adjust the temperature for you automatically. You will also get the opportunity to adjust your setting from anywhere with an app on your smartphone. You can keep your home comfortable while saving money.
How Programmable Thermostat Saves You Money
Forgetfulness leads to increased bills when you forget to raise the temperature before you leave for the day. You won’t have to worry about that when you program your preferred temperatures throughout the day in advance. You will also save money by keeping the unit on a consistent schedule. A smart thermostat will also track your HVAC energy usage to help you identify patterns you can break. Finally, it can send you reminders for maintenance.
Ways to Keep Your Home Cool
To adjust to a higher AC temperature, you want to keep your home as cool as possible to make up the difference. Use these tips to keep your home cool.
Light Clothing and Bedding
Switch out winter clothing and bedding for light, breathable fabrics. Cotton, linen, and silk provide great options. Put away denim, velvet, and wool fabrics until the weather gets cooler.
Generate Heat at Night
We do things throughout the day that generate heat in the home, making it feel hotter. You should do what you can to remove these activities from your routine or do them at night when it’s cooler. Some ways to reduce the amount of heat you create include:
- Turn lights off/use efficient light bulbs
- Cook outside or at night
- shower at night
- Use the washer and dishwasher at night
- Unplug electrical items not in use
Fans
Fans use significantly less energy and work well when you only need to cool one room. Turn on the fans in your home. Set ceiling fans counter-clockwise to keep hot air down. You can also place a bowl of ice in front of the fan to increase the cooling effects.
HVAC Service in Bellville, IL
BELOMAN offers professional heating and cooling services in the Bellville, IL, area to help answer your questions and handle all your needs. Services include duct cleaning, indoor air quality solutions, water heater installation, water heater repair, and pet solutions.
Call BELOMAN today to schedule an appointment with a fully licensed and insured HVAC technician.
