Keeping your home cool during the summer can be a challenge, and while your air conditioner can do the heavy lifting, it will still need a bit of help from you. That said, it pays to know a few of the ways in which you can optimize your cooling system and ensure its energy efficiency throughout the hot season.
In this post, AC repair expert Air Products & Services shares some tips on the best thermostat settings during the summer.
When You’re at Home
The best thermostat settings depend on a number of factors, but one of the main considerations is whether you’re at home or away. When you’re at home, your thermostat should ideally be set to 78 degrees. According to ENERGY STAR®, setting your air conditioner to this temperature allows you to keep your interior cool while avoiding an excessively high electricity bill. Furthermore, you can also add a dehumidifier if you’re looking for still more relief. Your thermostat setting, however, should be adjusted when you sleep. In this case, ENERGY STAR recommends keeping your thermostat setting at 82 degrees.
When You’re Away
When you’re at work or otherwise away from home, ENERGY STAR recommends turning your thermostat up to 85 to 88 degrees. This will keep the heat and humidity under control and at the same time help you save on your cooling expenses. Higher interior temperatures can slow down the flow of heat into your home. When you return to your home and switch up the settings again, it won’t take as much energy to cool things back down.
How to Maximize the Cooling Efforts in Your Home
If you feel that 78 degrees is still too high and don’t think it will be enough to cool you down this summer, there are a few things that you can do to help your air conditioner provide better cooling without consuming too much energy. The key is to prevent warm air from getting inside your home while ensuring that cool air isn’t able to escape. Here are some other tips that you might want to keep in mind:
- Ensure that your home is properly sealed. Install new or replace old weatherstripping and caulk around windows and doors.
- Use ceiling fans to increase cooling.
- Limit your use of appliances that generate heat, such as ovens and stoves, until after 8:00 in the evening. During the summer, try to grill in your yard or on your deck as much as possible.
- Swap out your old cooling units with more energy-efficient models. Sometimes an air conditioning replacement can be the more cost-effective solution to your cooling problem.
- Hang up window treatments to filter sunlight and prevent excessive heat from entering through your windows
Local Climate
If you live in a warmer climate, ENERGY STAR’s thermostat recommendations may seem incredible, and you may think that these temperatures are unrealistic. This concern is totally valid and understandable. After all, personal comfort should be taken into consideration too.
That said, you can treat these thermostat recommendations as a mere starting point. For example, try starting at 78 degrees and gradually raising the temperature setting one degree at a time. This technique allows your body time to adjust until you feel comfortable. According to the Department of Energy, you can save about three percent on your energy bill for every degree that you raise the temperature in your house in the summer.
Air Products & Services has been in the industry since 1979. We offer a range of services including AC replacement, air purification and other HVAC services. If you need help with an AC troubleshooting system, we can offer aid. Call us at (818) 989-2030 or fill out our contact form to request a free estimate. We serve customers in Tarzana, CA.
