Best Temperature for Your AC in the Summer

When the sweltering summer heat strikes, everyone scrambles to the nearest thermostat to get the cold air flowing. But the right air conditioner temp isn’t just about staying comfortable. It’s also about energy efficiency and reducing your power expenses. So, what’s the right temperature? The answer relies upon on your particular needs and the time of day. Explore the best air conditioning temperatures when you’re at home, out and about and when you are sleeping.

The Best AC Temperature When You’re at Home

The recommended daytime, at-home temperature for a home's AC is 78 degrees. This temperature setting may seem very high, but the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) claims it balances comfort and energy efficiency. Here are some tips to help keep your home comfortable at 78 degrees:

Use fans: Whether you're using a ceiling fan or a desk fan, circulating air makes the room feel about 4 degrees cooler. Plus, fans cost pennies on the dollar to use compared to your AC.
Dress lightly: What you wear greatly influences your comfort level. Wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothes made of breathable fabrics can help you keep cool when it's hot outside.
Block out the sun: Sunlight radiating through the windows will often heat a room a lot. To stop your home from becoming a greenhouse, hang curtains or blinds to block out the sun, at least during the peak afternoon hours.
Stay hydrated: Water consumption has a significant part in controlling your body temperature. Avoiding dehydration improves your body’s natural cooling processes.
Cook smart: Cooking creates considerable heat, forcing your air conditioner to work harder, so try not to use the oven or stove during the heat of the afternoon. Instead, cook food in the microwave, prepare cold meals on hot days or grill out on the porch of patio until the weather isn't so hot.

The Best AC Temperature While You’re Away

The DOE proposes setting the temperature back 7 to 10 degrees when you’re going to be out of the house for eight hours, a strategy experts say can save up to 10 percent on your cooling expenses. Setting up a programmable thermostat is the simplest way to save without giving up comfort.

This improvement allows you to automatically change the temperature at different times of the day or week according to your schedule, decreasing your energy bills without sacrificing comfort. The key is to make use of your programmable thermostat properly. Here are some recommendations for making sure you're using its full power:

Set it and forget it: Configure your thermostat to automatically turn the temperature up about a half hour before you leave for work or school in the morning. Then, program the schedule so a comfortable temperature resumes just as you walk in the door when you return.
Use the vacation setting: If you’re away from home for a long time, use the “vacation” or “permanent” hold to keep the “away” temperature for days at a time. This avoids excessive heat and humidity buildup without throwing away energy to cool an empty house.
Make gradual adjustments: Your air conditioner works most efficiently at steady speeds. Plus, a significant 10-degree drop will not cool your home more quickly. If you must, lower the temperature by only one degree and start up a fan or remove a layer of clothing to help you feel more comfortable.
Leverage smart capabilities: If you have a smart thermostat, capitalize on its programming capability and extra features. Some models can learn from your behaviors and change the temperature accordingly or be controlled remotely for outstanding comfort and convenience.

The Best AC Temperature When You’re Sleeping

When it’s time to go to bed, the DOE advises that you should consider setting the temperature four degrees higher than your normal setting. However, many people find it difficult to sleep in a hot and stuffy room. This makes finding the ideal sleep temperature a struggle. Thankfully, you can employ several techniques to beat the heat while you drift off to sleep:

Sleep in lightweight pajamas and breathable bed sheets: Just like your daytime attire, your choice of night clothes influences how hot or cold you feel. Your bed sheets also affect your comfort level. In both cases, light and breathable cotton is the very best choice.
Run a fan: Similar to during the day, a fan can generate a cool breeze in your bedroom at bedtime, making sleep more comfortable.
Open a window: If it gets cooler at night, reap the benefits of this by sleeping with the windows open.
Take a warm shower before bed: It may sound counterintuitive, but a warm shower really cools you down faster than a cold shower. It achieves this by elevating your blood circulation, bringing heat to the surface of your skin, where it radiates away faster.

Schedule AC Services this Summer in Winnipeg

Finding a compromise between a home’s comfort and energy efficiency can be tricky. Why spend all summer guessing at the perfect AC temperatures when Winnipeg Supply Service Experts can help you make the most of your home cooling technology? Our reliable, cost-effective AC services in Winnipeg come with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, so you can choose us with absolute confidence. Call 204-800-0613 today to schedule the top-notch services you need with Winnipeg Supply Service Experts.