Best Temperature for Your AC in the Summer

When the scorching summer heat arrives, everyone runs to the nearest thermostat to get the cold air flowing. But the right AC temp isn’t just about keeping comfortable. It’s also about energy efficiency and limiting your power costs. So, what’s the secret temp? The answer is based on your unique demands and the time of day. Explore the best air conditioner temperature range when you’re at home, out and when you are sleeping.

The Best AC Temperature When You’re at Home

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

• • Use fans: Whether it’s a ceiling fan or a desk fan, flowing air will make the room feel about 4 degrees cooler. Plus, fans cost very little to operate compared to your air conditioning unit.

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

• • Block out the sun: Sunlight beaming through the windows will often heat a room a lot. To stop 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 huge part in managing your body temperature. Staying hydrated enhances your body’s self-cooling processes.

• • Cook smart: Cooking creates 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 gets cooler.

The Best AC Temperature While You’re Away

The DOE advises setting the temperature back 7 to 10 degrees when you’re not home for eight hours, a strategy experts say can save up to 10 percent on your cooling costs. Buying a programmable thermostat is the easiest way to save without sacrificing comfort.

This technology allows you to automatically change the temperature at different times of the day or week according to your schedule, lowering your energy bills without sacrificing comfort. The key 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: Set up 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 just as you walk in the door in the evening.

• • Use the vacation setting: If you’re going to be out of your home for several days, use the “vacation” or “permanent” hold to use the “away” temperature for days at a time. This avoids extreme heat and humidity buildup without wasting 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 more rapidly. If you need to, decrease the temperature by a single 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, take advantage of its programming capability and advanced features. Some designs can learn from your behaviors and adjust the temperature accordingly or be managed remotely for exceptional comfort and convenience.

The Best AC Temperature When You’re Sleeping

When it’s time to head off to bed, the DOE advises that you should consider setting the temperature 4 degrees higher than your usual setting. However, a number of people find it hard to sleep in a warm room. This makes achieving the suitable sleep temperature a problem. Thankfully, you can employ several strategies to beat the heat while you go to sleep:

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

• • Run a fan: As it does during the day, a fan can generate a cool breeze in your bedroom in the evening, 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 odd, but a warm shower really cools you down more than a cold shower. It does this 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.

Balancing your home’s comfort and energy efficiency can be tricky. Why spend all summer trying to find the ideal AC temperatures when Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help you make the most of your system? Our reliable, 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.