What Is the Ideal Temperature for Home Air Conditioning in the Summer?

There’s no denying that summertime can bring some very hot weather. As it starts to make us uncomfortably sweaty, we rely on our home air conditioning systems to keep us nice and comfortable. Unfortunately, these systems can be quite costly to run if not run in an optimal manner.

Using a Programmable Thermostat

In order to set your thermostat to its most optimal efficiency, you’re going to need a programmable thermostat. Most newer air conditioning systems come with a programmable or smart thermostat. If your system still has an old dial regulator, you really should consider upgrading to a programmable one.

The trick to optimal efficiency with a programmable thermostat is being able to set different temperatures depending on whether you’re at home or not. When you’re at home, you want to keep your house at a comfortable temperature so that your family can relax while they’re indoors. However, when none of your family members are home, it makes sense not to have your air conditioner running. That’s simply a waste of energy and your hard-earned money.

A smart thermostat takes efficiency to a new level. In addition to programming your schedule into your thermostat, you can control it remotely. For example, if you have to leave unexpectedly, you can turn off your AC while you’re in your car.

Walking Into a Cool Home

At first take, you may think that a programmable thermostat isn’t necessary because you can just turn your air conditioning system off when you walk out of the house. The reality is that turning your air conditioning system completely off will ensure that your house will be scorching hot when you walk back in.

With a programmable thermostat, you can have the thermostat return to your at-home temperature prior to your arrival back home. This will ensure that when you walk back through the door of your home, it feels nice and comfortably cool.

Ideal At-Home Temperature

When your family is at home, you want to have your thermostat set at a comfortable temperature. Most experts agree that this temperature is 78 degrees Fahrenheit. However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for every family. It’s best to start at 78 degrees and move the thermostat down by a degree until you reach a temperature that your family can remain comfortable in.

The trick to getting the most energy-efficient setting for your home is to try to set the thermostat as high as your family is comfortable. For example, if 78 degrees isn’t keeping your family cool, go down to 77 degrees for a day. If they’re still uncomfortable, knock your thermostat down to 76 degrees. Once you decide on what your ideal at-home temperature is, it’s advisable to sit down and program your thermostat to be at that temperature during times that you know that your family will be home.

Ideal Away-From-Home Temperature

Once you establish what your ideal at-home temperature is, it’s time to figure out what your ideal away-from-home temperature is. To calculate this temperature, you simply want to add 10 degrees to your ideal at-home temperature. This will keep your thermostat from running for the majority of the time that you’re not at home. However, it does keep your thermostat at a viable temperature where it will kick on if your home gets too overheated while you’re away.

You’ll need to sit down and program your thermostat to be this temperature when you know you’re not going to be at home. This is where all of your energy savings are going to come into effect. By pretty much keeping your air conditioning system from running when you’re not at home, you can save yourself a bundle on your monthly power bill.

The Hour Buffer Rule

As you go through the process of programming your thermostat for the time that you’re going to be at home and away from home, it’s important to take the one-hour buffer rule into account. This role requires you to program your thermostat to your at-home temperature about an hour before you know your family is going to arrive back home.

This gives your air conditioning system time to cool your home back down to your desired at-home temperature before you arrive. You may find that your home requires more than an hour to cool down to your desired level. If so, simply program your thermostat to reduce the temperature two hours before you expect to be home.

Fast Air Conditioner Service

When you’re in need of fast air conditioner services in Puyallup, look no further than Puyallup Heating & Air Conditioning. We provide quality heating and cooling emergency repairs, preventative maintenance, and system installation. Call Puyallup Heating & Air Conditioning today to get your air conditioner needs handled quickly.