Should you actually set your thermostat to 78 in the summer?

Discover the magic number and how it adds up to savings

Summertime is here. Along with grilling, vacations, and afternoons by the puddle, y'all're sure to feel major heat waves. Depending on your location, triple-digit temperatures may be the norm for iii or more months out of the year. A ascension rut index, partnered with your goal to limit your monthly energy price, leaves you questioning what temperature to prepare the thermostat in the summer.

It turns out that the best indoor temperature for your home during the summer months is 78 degrees , according to the U.Due south. Department of Energy. If that temperature falls outside your comfort level, there are several means to modify how your home feels without causing your energy bill to fasten. Go along in mind, each degree set to a higher place 72 tin can save you up to 3% on your cooling costs.

Increase temperature when away

Naturally, when the oestrus increases outdoors, your HVAC system works harder to maintain your ideal indoor temperature. While you lot're away, however, your set  temperature doesn't need to exist quite so low.

Accommodate the thermostat while you're away to a higher setting. Installing a smart thermostat volition make adjusting the indoor temperature fifty-fifty easier. Schedule the setting to increase by 7 to x degrees while yous're at piece of work or abroad for the twenty-four hour period .

With the ability to control the thermostat from your smartphone, you tin easily conform the temperature to a cooler setting earlier arriving abode. Increasing the temperature when you're away can help save up to ten% on your energy bill.

Ceiling fan management in summer

A ceiling fan won't replace your air conditioner during the summer months, but information technology can certainly complement it. On almost models, there's a pocket-size switch nigh the bottom or side of the mounting base of the fan. This switch allows y'all to change the direction of the fan to match the season.

During the summertime months, your ceiling fan blades should spin counterclockwise. By spinning in this direction, your fan creates a absurd cakewalk by pushing air downwards. You lot'll find that the room feels up to 4 degrees cooler and stays consistent throughout the twenty-four hours. Plus, you lot tin can increase your air conditioner temperature by 2 to 3 degrees thanks to the fan's cool down.

Seasonal AC maintenance

Just every bit you prepare your vehicle for a long trip to ensure everything is in optimal working social club, the same should be done for your air conditioning. Leap maintenance on your HVAC before the summer heat hits volition help ensure the unit of measurement is performing properly, refrigerant levels are topped off, and the unit is cooling as efficiently equally possible.

Small things like leaky air ducts, poor insulation or overgrown landscaping around your air conditioner can affect efficiency. An independent Trane Dealer can perform seasonal maintenance on your unit, just the trained professionals tin also support y'all in replacing an anile system.

Invest in energy-efficient air conditioning

Even when you lot're setting your thermostat higher, you may not come across your electric bill get down if your air conditioner isn't running efficiently. An HVAC upgrade may be necessary to lower your energy employ and keep your habitation comfy.

A newer Energy Star® certified system that has a loftier Seasonal Free energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) and Free energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) rating can be 15% more efficient than older, less energy-witting models. Newer systems can also improve your comfort, since they typically characteristic ii-stage cooling and a variable-speed fan . This type of air conditioning system will keep yous cooler more consistently, even on a lower setting. It likewise runs longer without the starts and stops that use excess energy and removes twice equally much humidity from your air to keep you lot feeling more than chill.

Make your home naturally cooler

In addition to bumping upwards the thermostat setting during summer months, using ceiling fans, and scheduling Air conditioning maintenance, there are simple ways to make your home cooler .

  • Close shades, blinds and curtains to go on the sun out during the mean solar day. Blackout shades and defunction work wonders.
  • Open up windows and turn off your air conditioner at nighttime to let in libation air. Then shut the windows and shades in the morning to trap the absurd air in your house.
  • Weatherstrip doors and windows to continue cool air in and hot air out.
  • Only apply heat-generating appliances like your stove, oven, dryer and pilus dryer after 8pm to avoid heating up an already hot firm. Appliances can raise the temperature upward to x degrees!

Best temperature for comfy home

Saving on your energy bill is important, but you lot also want to relish your infinite comfortably. If a thermostat at 78 degrees during summer estrus isn't cool plenty for you, make small adjustments. Motility the temperature one to 2 degrees higher than normal to see if you can detect a difference. Continue to increment the setting until you reach your comfort limit.

Likewise, recollect that humidity can make you feel hotter. If high humidity is a constant challenge in your home, explore how power dehumidifiers can accommodate the moisture in the air even equally the seasons change to create a libation space.

Even so curious about how your thermostat and air conditioning system work? Learn more nearly HVAC basics from the experts at Trane.