What Temperature to Set Air Conditioner in Summer?

It is normal to turn on the air conditioner to make your home cool and comfortable in summer. Alongside the increasing temperatures, you’ll also have to deal with the high electricity bills as you would use your air conditioner more frequently.

Although air conditioners provide the most efficient method of maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature, their effectiveness depends on several factors. It is essential to know what temperature to set air conditioner in Summer to ensure that an AC operates at optimal efficiency and reduces your energy bill.

What’s The Best Temperature to Set The AC in Summer?

To stay comfortable at home this summer, the U.S. Department of Energy suggests that you set your thermostat to 26C. In other words, if you have an AC with a thermostat at your home, set it to 26C. Even keeping the temperature 1 degree lower could improve the efficiency of your AC by about 8 percent.

Although there are several variances from location to location and many other factors that affect how efficient your AC will be this summer, a general rule would be that you should keep your AC between 25 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius in the summer months.

How to Maximize Cooling Efforts in Your Home?

Apart from knowing what temperature to set the air conditioner in summer, you can also maximize the cooling efforts at home by observing a few essential tips.

Consider using blinds and shutting your curtains if you reside in sunny regions of the world.
If you work with computers or other electronic appliances for long hours, ensure that you place them some distance away from the AC vent as they increase the temperature in a room.
Remember to clean the air ducts or replace filters once every month, as it ensures that your air conditioner operates at optimal efficiency by circulating all-new air.
The best time to use your AC is between 10 am and 4 pm, as this is when the core temperature is at its peak.
Install thermostats that have a programmable mode so that you can control the AC accordingly. For example, if it is winter, consider programming your AC to start four hours before coming home from work and switch off two hours after reaching home.
Although you can use AC throughout the day, ensure that you know how much power it is consuming. If you are not at home, shut down your AC.

What’s the Best Temperature to Guarantee Humidity Control?

Humidity control is another essential component of ensuring a comfortable work and living environment. As humidity levels in your home increase, the air becomes dense with water vapours. These vapours make it difficult for humans to breathe easily and cause several other condensations on walls.

Therefore, it becomes critical for you to consider what temperature to set air conditioner in summer and what temperature to set dehumidifier in summer. The recommended indoor humidity level is between 30% to 50%. Setting the air conditioner at a high temperature (at least 26C) and the dehumidifier at a slightly lower level (around 20C) is always better.

This way, you stay comfortable throughout the day and ensure that humidity levels are under control. You can measure humidity levels using an electronic hygrometer.

How to Save Energy While Enjoying Your AC This Summer?

Although an AC is a great device to beat the heat and enjoy your home this summer, it is also crucial to consider your electricity bill. Although you should set your AC at 26C, do not increase temperatures too much as it might unnecessarily increase the energy bills.

The following are some of the tips on how you can save energy while enjoying your AC this summer.

Avoid on/off cycles

Ensure that you are not setting an AC at very high temperatures and then switching it off for some time. Although the temperature inside your room might be higher than outside, you will still need to switch on the AC again when humidity levels rise rapidly. Therefore, instead of turning the AC on/off, set it at a permanent temperature.

Install programmable thermostats

If you don’t have programmable thermostats installed in your home already, consider installing them this summer. They will help you figure out when to switch on your AC and when not to use it so that you can save maximum energy and enjoy your AC this summer.

Use blinds and curtains

Although you might not notice it, the sunlight shining in your room heats everything inside, including walls, furniture, etc. Although blinds and curtains aren’t aesthetically pleasing, they can be beneficial in preventing your AC from working extra hard to lower the temperature of a room that’s full of natural light.

Set the thermostat at 26C

If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, ensure that you set the temperature of your AC to 26C and avoid increasing it much more than that as it might cause problems such as dampness in walls and other issues related to humidity levels.

Turn off the AC if you leave

If you are leaving your home for a vacation or work, turn off the AC and ensure that it remains shut as well. It will save energy and allow your AC to cool down before switching it back on when coming back from work/vacation.

Install outdoor covers on your AC

Although most people might not be aware of this fact, installing outdoor covers on your AC is advisable. It will ensure that the outdoor unit gets cooled down and prevented from overheating and also allow you to use your AC more efficiently.

Plan ahead

Instead of switching on your AC as soon as you reach home, it’s better to plan and set the temperature on your thermostat in advance. For example, if you are likely to get home by 5 pm, set the AC four hours before reaching home so that it cools your room quickly.

Switch your AC on when you are in a room

If possible, switch on your AC only when you are in the room to not cool empty rooms and lower humidity levels unnecessarily. You can increase humidity levels quickly by placing a pan of water on the floor and opening doors to other rooms.