As tempting as it is to turn up your air conditioning in the summer whenever it gets too hot outside, that’s not always a great idea if you want to lower your utility bills and get the most out of your AC. We understand wanting to keep your home cool and comfortable, but there’s a way to go about it without pushing your AC to its limit. Instead of just turning down the temperature on your thermostat whenever it gets hot outside, consider these temperature settings instead if you want to keep your utility bills manageable.
When You’re At Home
According to the U.S. Department of energy, the best temperature for your house when everyone is home is 78 degrees Fahrenheit. That may sound uncomfortably warm for some people, but it is still a far cry from temperatures in the high 80s or the 90s. Setting your thermostat at 78 degrees will still keep your home feeling cool and comfortable without using too much energy. If it does seem too hot for you and your family, you can take steps to keep cool without turning up your AC such as hanging curtains or blinds in your windows that block sunlight, sealing your home to keep cool air from escaping, and using fans to circulate air.
When You’re Away From Home
When you’re away from home, you can turn up your thermostat a bit to save energy. After all, there’s no reason to keep your home too cool when nobody is around to enjoy it. With that being said, you shouldn’t turn off your AC completely when nobody’s home. Instead, turn your thermostat to 88 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s still not so hot that you can’t cool everything down when you get home, but you’re not cooling off an empty house either.
Using a Programmable Thermostat
Since it can be a real pain to constantly adjust your thermostat, we recommend installing a programmable thermostat in your home if you haven’t already. A programmable thermostat will adjust the temperature according to your schedule. It can raise the temperature of your home during the day when everyone is out, and lower it when everyone is coming back home from work or school. All you need to do is program the thermostat once, and you won’t have to worry about it for the rest of the summer.
For more information about lowering your energy consumption this summer or anything else related to your HVAC system, contact
Comfort Solutions today.
