Ideal Thermostat Setting for the Summer

Posted on: May 06, 2019

During the warm summer months, you likely spend more money running the HVAC than at any other time of the year (outside of possibly one month in the winter). In order to help keep the electric bill down, you’ll want to adjust the thermostat to an ideal setting. This way, you’ll save money while keeping your home comfortable all at the same time. Here are the ideal thermostat settings for the summer. 

Ideal Temperature For When You’re At Home

According to the United States Department of Energy, the very best setting for your thermostat during the summer is 78 degree while at home. This will keep the home comfortable while also reducing your dependency on high amounts of energy. 

You will want to make sure the air filter is clean while doing this. One of the reasons your home might feel uncomfortable is because the humidity is lingering inside the house. You will want to rid humidity from the home. Your AC will do this, but if the air filter is dirty, it won’t do it as efficiently. If you still have a higher level of humidity within your home, you’ll want to invest in an air dehumidifier. 

When You’re Gone

When you’re gone, you don’t need to let the AC run. Instead, have the AC set to 88 degrees while you’re away. Now, you don’t want to turn the AC off completely while you’re gone. If the AC needs to go from off to on several times a day, you’ll end up spending more money than necessary as the HVAC system will need to work overtime in order to take the temperature down to 78. The benefit of having a temperature set at 88 degrees is it will reduce the flow of warm air into your home, as your home is already at a warmer temperature. This way, your HVAC system will run even less. 

Invest In a New Thermostat

Now, you can set the thermostat to 88 when you leave for work and then turn it down to 78 when you return home, but that does leave some overhanging time, especially when you get back from work, where you’ll need to deal with an undesirable temperature setting. By investing in a programmable thermostat, you can set when you’d like the temperature to be at 78 or 88. This will take some of the guesswork out, and you won’t need to worry about potentially forgetting to adjust the temperature when you head out for work in the morning. 

One of the best ways to save money is to invest in a smart thermostat. This takes the features of a programmable thermostat while building upon the features. One such benefit is you can adjust the temperature of the house when you are not around. If you know you’re going to be home later than normal, you can have the 88-degree temperature last longer, or you can adjust whatever settings necessary from a paired smartphone. It can also learn your schedule and even detect if someone is in the house and make the necessary temperature adjustments to help you save money. 

Professional HVAC Services All Year

By following these tips for the ideal thermostat setting for the summer, you’ll remain comfortable while reducing your overall electric bill. Additionally, make sure to have your HVAC system serviced at least once a year. This will help improve its functionality, reduce air flow loss and boost energy efficiency. Airco Service Inc. is here to assist with all of your HVAC needs, so whether you need to schedule an annual servicing or you have other needs, Airco Service is just a phone call away.