Keeping your house at a comfortable temperature during the summer requires a balance between your family’s preferences and your budget. As your thermostat is lowered during the summer, your energy bills will increase. You should consider the best temperature settings and how much you can save before you aim for the right temperature in your home.

Summer Temperature Settings You Should Use at Home

The US Department of Energy advises setting your thermostat to 78F when you are at home. This setting can help keep you cool while avoiding excessive electricity costs. When you are away from home for more than two hours, you can raise your thermostat setting up to 10 degrees. If you have a programmable  or smart thermostat, it is easy to program the temperature to lower back down to your ideal setting before you get home. Saving up to 10% on cooling costs is possible thanks to this setting.

However, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends that summer-clothed people can stay in temperatures between 73F and 79F. A National Institute of Health study states the best sleep is achieved at 86F without a blanket or at 60 to 66F with pajamas and one sheet.

With these temperatures in mind, you can experiment with your thermostat for a few hours and see how your family reacts. Over the next few days, drop the temperature a few degrees. Then you can set your thermostat to what you find to be the average of your family’s comfortable range.

If you have zoned cooling in your home, you can choose different temperatures based on how those spaces are being used.

Home Cooling Tips for the Summer

The best way to improve the efficiency of your air conditioner is to avoid allowing warm air into your home and allowing cool air out. To ensure your home stays cool this summer, take the following steps:

• Make sure to schedule a spring air conditioner maintenance appointment.
• Lower your home’s humidity with a dehumidifier.
• Use blackout curtains to block the sun and window treatments to keep the heat out.
• Seal your home with new weatherstripping and caulk around doors and windows.
• Cook as much as possible outside throughout the summer. Avoid using heat-generating equipment like the oven before 8 p.m.
• Install ceiling fans to improve your cooling system.
• Invest in energy-efficient air conditioners to replace your old ones.
• Buy a smart thermostat to control the temperature in your home based on whether you are at home or away.

Set the Right Temperature In Your Home

Experiment with what works in your house as you adjust the temperature over the summer. You can also use other methods such as curtains and ceiling fans to help keep your family cool. It is possible to find the ideal temperature for summer comfort in your home.

If your air conditioner isn’t able to keep your home cool, it’s time to call a professional to assess if your unit is sufficient for your home and operating properly. We have a team of highly trained HVAC technicians who can service all makes and models of air conditioning units. For replacements, we offer American Standard products. Give us a call at 217-469-7034 or reach out via our contact form to schedule an appointment.