Best Temperature for Your AC in the Summer

When the sweltering summer heat arrives, everyone scrambles 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 lowering your power costs. So, what’s the secret temperature? The answer depends on your distinct needs and the time of day. Explore the ideal air conditioner temperatures when you’re at home, away 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 amount may seem shockingly high, but the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) claims it balances comfort and energy efficiency. Here are a few tips to help keep yourself cool at 78 degrees:

Use fans: Whether it is a ceiling fan or a desk fan, the flowing air will make the room feel about 4 degrees cooler. Plus, fans cost pennies on the dollar to use compared to your air conditioning unit.
Dress lightly: What you are wearing greatly influences your comfort level. Dressing in light-colored, loose-fitting clothes made of breathable fabrics will help you keep cool when it's hot outside.
Block out the sun: Sunlight radiating through the windows can easily heat a room significantly. To stop your home from becoming a greenhouse, hang curtains or blinds to block out the sun, especially during the peak afternoon hours.
Stay hydrated: How much water you drink has a big part in managing your body temperature. Avoiding dehydration improves your body’s natural cooling processes.
Cook smart: Cooking generates a surprising amount of heat, forcing your air conditioner to work harder, so avoid using the oven or stove during the hot afternoon. Instead, make use of the microwave, prepare cold meals on hot days or grill outdoors 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 home for eight hours, a move that can save up to 10 percent on your cooling costs. Buying a programmable thermostat is the easiest strategy to save without giving up comfort.

This improvement 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 guidelines for harnessing its full capabilities:

Set it and forget it: Configure your thermostat to automatically turn the thermostat up to your away temperature about a half hour before you leave for work or school in the morning. Then, set the thermostat to start bringing the temperature back down so a comfortable temperature resumes just as you walk in the door in the evening.
Use the vacation setting: If you’re not going to be home for several days, use the “vacation” or “permanent” hold to maintain 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 normal speeds. Plus, a big 10-degree drop doesn't actually cool your home more quickly. If you have 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, capitalize on its programming capability and extra features. Some brands can learn from your behaviors and adjust the temperature accordingly or be controlled remotely for superior comfort and convenience.

The Best AC Temperature When You’re Sleeping

When it’s time to go to bed, the DOE suggests setting the temperature four degrees higher than your typical setting. However, many people find it tough to sleep in a hot and stuffy room. This makes getting 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 clothing, your choice of night clothes affects how hot or cold you feel. Your bed sheets also can be a factor in your comfort level. In both cases, light and breathable cotton is the very best option.
Run a fan: Just like during the day, a fan can create a cool breeze in your bedroom at bedtime, making sleep more comfortable.
Open a window: If it cools down at night, make the most of this by going to bed with the windows open.
Take a warm shower before bed: It may sound strange, but a warm shower actually cools you down better than a cold shower. It achieves 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 Ocala

Balancing indoor comfort and energy efficiency can be challenging. Why spend all summer guessing at the ideal AC temperatures when Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help you make the most of your home cooling technology? Our high-quality, cost-effective AC services in Ocala come with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, so you can choose us with total confidence. Call 352-414-4006 today to schedule the premium services you need with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.