Trying to keep your family cool and comfortable during a balmy North Carolina summer without breaking the bank can seem daunting. If you want to know the best AC temperature for summer to achieve your home comfort and budget goals, A+ Heating & Cooling has solutions to guide you. Maximize your home’s climate control and save money with our pro tips regarding the best AC temperature for a low electricity bill.
The ideal temperature setting to beat the heat and save energy during the summer months is between 72 and 78 degrees. It may be tempting to crank the AC to the max on a long, hot July day, but doing this can spike your energy usage and electricity bill.
Here are some recommendations on how to adjust the AC temperature throughout the day and night:
- When the family is away at work, school, or other activities, keep the thermostat setting at 78 degrees; this temperature cools just enough to prevent the home from getting overly warm and allows you to conserve energy while the house is empty.
- In the evening, most homes tend to heat up, especially if you prepare hot meals in the kitchen; setting the thermostat between 72-74 degrees should prevent a steamy situation.
- Overnight, adjust the temperature to your comfort level between 72 and 78 degrees; some prefer to keep things cooler at night to promote better sleep.
- If mold is a concern in your home, the best AC temperature to prevent mold is between 68 and 72 degrees; for both mold prevention and energy efficiency, the closer to 72, the better.
- Consider installing a programmable thermostat or smart thermostat to streamline your climate control settings; this will allow you to set the AC to adjust on a schedule that’s right for your family without having to do it manually.
Keeping the thermostat around 78 degrees for as many hours as possible will lower energy costs to avoid a shocking summertime electric bill. But because comfort is also the goal, adjust as needed to prevent stuffy living spaces.
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Lowering the thermostat isn’t the only way to promote a cool environment in your home.
Check out these energy-efficient ways to cool things down:
- Run ceiling fans counterclockwise to circulate cooler air throughout the home.
- Keep curtains or blinds closed during the day, especially on west or south-facing windows where the sun is the brightest.
- Unplug small appliances and gadgets when not in use; these generate more heat than you might expect.
- Avoid running your dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer on super-hot days.
- Keep the lights off as much as possible to minimize the heat radiating from light fixtures.
One of the best things you can do to prevent a hot, sticky home and high energy bill is to schedule HVAC maintenance. Professional technicians will ensure the system runs at peak efficiency, catching issues like a dirty air filter and malfunctions that can cause energy usage spikes. Proper maintenance also saves you money because it extends the useful lifespan of your HVAC system.