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What’s The Most Efficient Temperature To Set My Air Conditioner In The Summer?

What’s The Most Efficient Temperature To Set My Air Conditioner In The Summer?

71°? 75°? 78°? Ask three homeowners where they set their thermostat during a hot Virginia or North Carolina summer, and you may get three very different answers.

ENERGY STAR and the U.S. Department of Energy commonly recommend setting your thermostat around 78°F when you’re home to help save energy. That said, we know there’s no magic temperature that works for every household.

Your comfort preferences, your home and even the humidity outside can all influence the best setting for your family. The key is finding the right balance between comfort and efficiency to keep your home cool without unnecessarily increasing your summer energy costs.

HVAC tech adjusting the thermostat with the homeowner

Turning Down Your Thermostat Won’t Cool Your Home Faster

We completely understand the desire to walk into a steamy house and immediately crank down your thermostat to 65°F. While that might seem like the shortest route to being cool and comfortable, unfortunately, your air conditioner doesn’t work that way.

Setting the thermostat lower than your desired temperature won’t make most AC systems cool your home any faster. Instead, the system simply keeps running longer to reach the lower temperature, using more energy in the process.

Your best bet is to set your thermostat to the temperature you actually want and let your air conditioner do the rest.

Make Your Thermostat Work Smarter, Not Harder

Finding the right temperature is only part of maximizing your air conditioner’s efficiency. Adjusting your thermostat based on when you’re home, away or asleep can reduce unnecessary energy use without sacrificing comfort.

Smart and programmable thermostats can make those adjustments for you automatically. This helps your AC work less when you don’t need as much cooling while returning your home to your preferred temperature when you do.

Your Thermostat Is Only Part of the Equation

Even the perfect thermostat setting can’t make up for an air conditioner that isn’t performing efficiently. All of the following issues can make your AC work harder to keep your home comfortable:

  • Dirty filters
  • Restricted airflow
  • Aging equipment
  • Poor insulation

Regular maintenance can help identify small issues and improve system performance to keep your air conditioner running efficiently throughout the summer.

Hall HVAC removing a mini-split filter in a home