Best Temperature to Set Your AC Thermostat

Be the most energy efficient as possible!

Woman relaxing on a tufted sofa, contemplating comfortably in a cozy indoor setting, emphasizing a serene atmosphere ideal for energy-efficient cooling solutions.

It may seem counterintuitive to use the air conditioner and fan simultaneously at the expense of the electricity they consume. However, the secret is to operate them both on reduced settings, which will result in significant cost savings. Most people crank up the air conditioning when it's boiling outside. Still, a more energy-efficient strategy is keeping the house at a temperature roughly the same as the outside air. If it's 80 degrees outdoors, you shouldn't set your air conditioner lower than 75 or 78 degrees (what you would likely be inclined to set it at). However, if the fan runs in sync with the AC, the room temperature can drop by as much as 4 degrees Fahrenheit even though the AC is set to the same setting. If it's 80 degrees outside, you may turn on the fan in addition to the air conditioner to get a more comfortable temperature inside the home (say, 71 degrees).

The Logic Behind it

So, let's take a moment to discuss chemistry. Warm air rises to the ceiling while cooler air sinks to the floor because of the principle of thermal convection. Your air conditioner may be blowing out icy air, but it may not be circulating as effectively as it could because cold air tends to settle instead of moving around a room. When you turn on the fan, the cool air that has been trapped in the cooler parts of the room will be pushed to the warmer areas, making it easier to maintain a suitable temperature throughout the entire room. Particularly if your home has multiple stories, much of the warm air will be trapped on the higher floors, making the lower levels feel much colder than they are.

Schedule regular AC maintenance visits

Although it may not seem like it at the time, keeping up with routine AC maintenance is money well spent. It will also be able to retain up to 95% of its original efficiency even after several years have passed. If you have a technician check on your air conditioner often, they will be able to spot any problems in the early stages before they cause significant disruptions. Neglected problems, even if they appear small at the moment, can quickly snowball into substantial costs that you could have avoided otherwise. And since you won't have to shell out for new machinery often, routine system checkups are a great way to save money. You can reach our maintenance experts easily, so don't put off scheduling an appointment if it's past due.

With the recent heat wave plaguing the Pacific North West, a central air conditioning system is the most cost-effective means of keeping cool over the summer. This summer, relax knowing that Best Owner Direct HVAC provides a variety of air conditioning devices that are both efficient and affordable.