The right comfortable indoor temperature varies from person to person. Some of us like it a little cooler, and some like a little higher range. But what really is the ideal thermostat setting for the summer? How does this affect your comfort and your energy bills? Keep reading to find out more about thermostat settings in the summer.
What Is the Best Thermostat Setting for Summer?
The Recommended Summer Thermostat Temperature
What should I set my thermostat to in the summer? Most experts suggest setting your thermostat to 78 degrees F when you are home and awake. The 78°F range minimizes the difference between indoor and outside temperature. Hence, it balances comfort and energy efficiency. But if the setting is still not cool enough for your comfort, you can go 1 or 2 degrees lower. Other techniques for creating a cooler room, such as lowering humidity, which has a role in indoor comfort, can be used, too. A dehumidifier is a great way to keep moisture levels under control in your home.
Should You Adjust Your Thermostat When You’re Away?
Recommended Settings When Nobody Is Home
Now, what if no one is home, what should I set my thermostat to in the summer? We recommend setting your thermostat by raising the temperature by 7 – 10 degrees from its normal setting. This temperature range is the sweet spot for efficiency. At this level, your AC is not working too hard to cool the space, so you’re helping it reduce its workload, while also saving on energy costs. This easy summer fix can cut summer bills by a noticeable margin, roughly 10% savings annually.
How Summer Thermostat Settings Impact Your Energy Bills
Finding the Balance Between Comfort and Savings
We all know that summer can be scorching hot. Therefore, having an effective cooling system is a non-negotiable. But with your AC running all day long, energy costs are always a factor. So how do you strike a balance between maintaining a comfortable temperature inside and saving on energy costs? As we’ve mentioned earlier, the key lies in controlling how hard your air conditioner works in response to outdoor temperatures. Having the right settings helps the system avoid working too hard, preventing it from using excessive energy due to overload.
Additional Ways to Improve Efficiency
There are other ways to cool a room that don’t require a lot of energy in addition to air conditioning. For example, ceiling fans can help circulate air and create a wind-chill effect, window coverings can block solar heat from coming in, and air sealing and insulation can keep cool air in and heat out.
Factors That Influence the Best Thermostat Setting
Home Size and Layout
The layout and size of your home will directly affect how effective your thermostat settings will be. The larger the size, the longer it will take your cooling system to cool your house; the smaller the area, the faster it will be.
Layout (open vs. closed layouts and one-story vs. multi-story houses) also plays a role. Open layouts allow air to flow more freely, making it easier for the thermostat to control the room, while closed layouts (like having many rooms) will have more limited airflow. Multi-story homes can also lead to temperature imbalances.
A solution to these different circumstances includes using a zoning system with separate thermostats to ensure different rooms receive adequate cooling, and, for larger homes, maintaining the ideal temperature (such as 78°F) to avoid energy-intensive runtime.
Household Preferences
Another factor to consider is your household preferences. These include daily routines as well as the age and health of the people living in your house. For example, if you have infants or the elderly living in the house, consider that they generally have a harder time regulating their body temperatures. Therefore, a steady, stable climate is ideal. If health is a concern, a zoning cooling system is a good option. Rather than cooling the entire house to one temperature, each room can have its own preferences.
Daily activities such as cooking, baking, and working out inside generate heat and moisture in the space. Try these activities early in the day when it is relatively cooler, and AC use can be minimized.
Humidity Levels
High humidity can make a room feel much warmer, which may require you to use your AC more vigorously. Use different methods to manage moisture in the room, reduce temperature, make the room significantly more comfortable, and minimize the workload on your AVC. Dehumidifiers, good indoor airflow, and letting fresh air in during cooler times of the day are some ways to maintain ideal humidity levels.
How Johnson’s HVAC Can Help Improve Your Home’s Comfort
Air Conditioning Maintenance
Proper maintenance is important for the performance of a cooling system. The best performance and longevity will be obtained from a well-maintained unit. Johnson’s HVAC can help you with your AC maintenance needs. Our professional team is experienced and skilled in providing the best maintenance for your air conditioner, helping you achieve the cooling efficiency you require throughout the summer season.
AC Repairs
Experiencing issues with your AC? Don’t worry. Johnson’s HVAC can help inspect your system and determine exactly what’s wrong. With years of experience, we’ve seen just about everything, so we know what to look for and how to fix it. With our team looking after your air conditioning, you can rest assured that it is in good hands.
Thermostat Installation
The installation process is crucial and should be done properly. Our professional technician can help with all the intricacies of thermostat installation. For example, you want your thermostat to work properly by ensuring the new equipment is optimized to calibrate and communicate accurately. Second, there is placement, height, and structural seals. All of these technical processes ensure that your thermostat runs smoothly.
Energy-Efficient System Replacements
If you need to upgrade your old system to a more energy-efficient one, we have you covered! We offer a range of energy-efficient products at competitive prices, and, of course, they are of high quality to ensure you meet your needs for a comfortable home and cost-saving results.
Get in touch with Johnson HVAC today to find out more about our services and how we can help you beat the heat this summer.
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