This Is the Right Temperature for Your Air Conditioner in Summer, According to a Pro

In summer, most people set the thermostat to between 72°F to 78°F to ensure the home is comfortable. However, if the temperature is set too low, then the air conditioner may operate for long periods of time, rarely turning off. If the air conditioner is set too high, then the home may be just as uncomfortable as the air outdoors.

So, what temperature should you set your air conditioner to in the summer?

What Temperature Should You Set Your Air Conditioner in Summer?

Setting your air conditioner to the same temperature during the day may feel too hot or too cold during the night for a comfortable sleep.

Similarly, leaving the air conditioner running as though someone is home when everyone is out for the day only drives up cooling costs with no real benefit for the homeowner or residents.

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Temperature Setting When at Home

For most people, a comfortable temperature in summer is about 72°F to 78°F. If you’re not sure what temperature you prefer, try starting with the temperature at about 78°F.

If that’s not comfortable for you, you can drop the temperature by a single degree and give it a day, and continue until you reach a good temperature.

Temperature Setting When Away

Operating your air conditioner consistently throughout the day when the home is empty will drive up cooling costs without providing any actual benefit to the home or the occupants.

To reduce cooling costs, increase the temperature setting by about seven degrees Fahrenheit while you are away from home. This will keep the temperature low enough to avoid humidity problems, but will also allow the air conditioner to operate for less time, reducing energy usage. When you get home, simply turn the temperature setting back to normal.

Setting the thermostat lower than the normal temperature will not cool the home any faster. Instead, if you want the home to be comfortable by the time you get home, invest in a programmable thermostat that can be set to a certain schedule, so the air conditioner will start cooling the home before you arrive.

Temperature Setting During the Day

In most cases, a temperature of about 72°F to 78°F is considered comfortable, though there may be differences in exact preference between individuals. Additionally, if no one is home during the day, then it’s a good cost-saving habit to increase the temperature by about seven degrees Fahrenheit, so the air conditioner does not need to work as hard when the house is empty.

Higher humidity levels can make the home feel warmer, stickier, and less comfortable. An air conditioner will naturally remove some of the humidity from the home, but you may want to invest in a dehumidifier if high humidity levels are a concern. The ideal temperature for the home is a balance between comfort and cost savings. The closer the thermostat is to the temperature outdoors, the higher the cost savings, but this typically comes at the sacrifice of comfort.

Temperature Setting at Night

The National Sleep Foundation notes that the best temperature for a good night’s sleep falls between 60°F to 67°F.

However, some people may see the nighttime hours as another opportunity to save on cooling bills. Since the night is naturally cooler than the day, bumping up the thermostat setting by four degrees Fahrenheit may not be as noticeable, allowing you to reduce cooling costs while you sleep.

Tips to Keep the Home Cool

There are other ways to keep the home cool that don’t cost as much to operate as a full-size air conditioner.

• Keep the sun out by closing any shades, blinds, or curtains. The physical barrier will reflect a portion of the heat, keeping the home cooler without any additional costs.
• Take advantage of nighttime temperatures by opening the windows at night to let cool air enter the home, then close the windows and lower the shades to trap the cool nighttime air inside in the morning. Turn off the air conditioner or set it to a higher temperature at night to reduce cooling costs.
• Seal doors and windows by applying weatherstripping, caulking, or sealant to any gaps or cracks. This will reduce the transfer of heat through the walls, windows, and doors of the home.
• Avoid using large heat-generating appliances during the day, like the stove, oven, or clothes dryer. It’s best to wait until after the sun has gone down to use these appliances.
• Install one or more ceiling fans to help increase air flow through the home. Ceiling fans can move cool air throughout the home.

Humidity Control

Before adjusting the temperature setting, check the humidity level. Higher humidity levels can make the home feel warmer than it is, encouraging you to lower the temperature setting on the thermostat. However, reducing the temperature further will have a limited effect on the humidity while rapidly increasing cooling costs.

The humidity level inside the home can affect the way the air feels—too high and the air feels hot and sticky, but if the humidity is too low, then the air can feel dry and harsh. Ideally, the humidity level should fall between 30 to 50 percent.

An air conditioner will help to reduce humidity levels by drawing ambient humidity out of the home, but if the humidity level outdoors is too high, then you may need to use a dehumidifier to help control the humidity levels.

Why You Should Consider a Programmable Thermostat

Instead of manually managing the thermostat temperature setting every day, consider investing in a programmable thermostat.

A programmable thermostat will control the heating and cooling system like a normal thermostat, but can be set to operate on a schedule so that the temperature setting will automatically change based on the time of day. This can be set to coincide with when you wake up, when you go to sleep, and even when you leave home for work.

Smart programmable thermostats may even be able to be linked to your smartphone so that when you enter a broad geographic area close to the home, the thermostat can automatically start cooling the home in preparation for your arrival.