What’s the Best Thermostat Setting for Summer?
We’ve Got the Magic Number to Help You Keep Your Cool
This time of year, our service techs are busy doing AC system tune-ups to help make sure customers are ready for that first stretch of hot weather. And one of the most common questions they get is about the best thermostat setting for your central AC to keep your home comfortable without jacking up energy bills.
The short answer is to keep your thermostat set at 78 degrees. But there’s more to know about how to keep cool and comfortable all summer, while saving energy and keeping bills manageable.
Why 78? The smaller the difference between your indoor and outdoor temperature, the lower your cooling bill will be. That temperature may seem high, but keep in mind that the humidity plays a big part in how uncomfortable you feel when it’s hot. Setting your thermostat higher and reducing the humidity in your home will make a big difference.
Setting your thermostat for 10 degrees warmer when you’re not home will help lower your cooling bills even more. And, with a programable thermostat, you can set your thermostat to lower the temperature a half hour before you get home. If you have pets at home, you may want to set it only five degrees warmer.
Smart Thermostats Are Cool
The technology behind smart thermostats mean you can adjust your thermostat from anywhere using an app on your phone. So if you’re heading home earlier than usual, or you don’t have a regular schedule, you can adjust your thermostat remotely when you’re a half hour from home, or a half hour before the kids get home.
When you use a smart thermostat to raise the AC when you leave the house and turn it back down in time to make the house comfortable by the time you to get home, you may be able to cut cooling costs by as much as 10%, according to the United States Department of Energy. You can earn similar savings when you use it to control your heat in the winter.
More Cool Tools
Keeping the heat out of your house in the first place will mean you won’t feel the need to blast the AC. There are some easy ways to do that. Closing blinds during the day means the sun can heat up your rooms. (Keep them open during the winter to warm up!) Avoid using the stove and oven, and running appliances like washers and dryers during the day. Summer is for grilling, after all!
If you have ceiling fans, they will help keep cool air down where you are. And a dehumidifier will help eliminate excess moisture in your home, which will make you feel less sticky and more comfortable.
Don’t Forget a Tune-up
A professional tune-up from Bolkema ensures your system will operate at peak efficiency—which goes a long way to keeping energy costs down, too. A tune-up will also catch and correct small problems like a blocked drain line that can lead to bigger, more expensive problems. Have a service plan with us? Your tune-up is included!
Ready for a new AC? Need a repair? Find out why so many of your neighbors across northern New Jersey and lower New York State trust us for heating and air conditioning services and so much more. Contact us today.