When the outdoor temperature starts soaring, it’s time to turn on the AC. The biggest question now is – “What temperature setting to use?” Your indoor comfort depends on what setting you have configured on your thermostat. The power consumption and consequently the monthly energy bills also depend on the same. Yes, other factors also contribute to energy consumption, but the major part of the power bill in any household consists of the home’s heating and cooling system. Therefore, it becomes essential to balance comfort and energy usage so that your expenses don’t skyrocket. The best way to achieve this balance is by ensuring proper thermostat programming. AC ideal temperature will give you the best of both worlds.
AC Ideal Temperature
The ideal AC temperature, as recommended by the Department of Energy, is 78 degrees Fahrenheit. But how many people actually follow this setting? The truth is, not many. Although it is the recommended setting, yet when it comes to homes and buildings, no “one-size” option fits all. Depending on the number and age of occupants, the AC’s ideal temperature will change. The more the people indoor, the warmer it becomes, and hence you may have to crank down the settings to make it cooler. Similarly, aged people prefer only slight cooling while the young and active feel hot at the same temperature. Therefore, if you were expecting a standard setting for all, this truth may be a disappointment.
What If I Am Not Comfortable At AC’s Ideal Temperature Setting?
It is highly probable that you may not feel comfortable at 78 degrees Fahrenheit. If not, don’t fret. 78 degrees Fahrenheit is the baseline temperature setting at which your AC gives the best value for money performance. Nonetheless, keeping your comfort in mind, you can decrease the temperature by a few degrees. It will increase the power consumption but not much. Here are a few other things that will help you feel cooler indoors:
1. Instead of synthetics, wear lightweight and breathable cotton clothes.
2. Switch on the ceiling fans.
3. Draw the blinds to prevent sunlight from entering through the glass windows. The sunlight will only add to the indoor heat.
4. Ensure that all your electrical appliances are not placed close to each other as their cumulative heat will increase the indoor temperature.
AC Ideal Temperature For Sleeping
Do you often wake up at night feeling hot? If yes, don’t jump to the conclusion that you have insomnia (sleep disorder). The culprit could very well be the wrong temperature setting on the thermostat.
It is necessary to get good uninterrupted sleep at night of at least 8 hours to begin fresh the next day. At night, when we sleep, our body temperature drops. If at this time, the indoor temperature does not match with the body temperature, we feel hot and wake up. In short, our sleep gets disrupted. Therefore the nighttime temperature setting on your thermostat needs to be tweaked accordingly. The most suitable range of temperature for sleeping is between 60 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. You must be wondering why such a large range. Well, it is because sleeping temperature tends to differ from person to person. The best way to figure out what suits you is by starting in the middle, say, 66 or 67 degrees Fahrenheit. If you feel cold and start shivering, increase the temperature a few degrees, and if you still feel hot, decrease it a few degrees until you find your magic number.
Some things you may want to keep in mind while figuring out your sleeping temperature are:
1. If you wear different types of clothes to bed each night, the temperature that works for your body will vary.
2. Even the material of the bedsheet and pillows will make a difference.
3. If you are in the habit of taking a blanket at night, you will want a cooler room. Otherwise, the blanket will make you feel sweaty.
4. If you sleep with your spouse or share the room with somebody else, achieving the best sleeping temperature may require a little compromise.
Check The Humidity
A major factor that governs indoor temperature is ambient humidity. When the humidity level increases indoors, it’s bound to make you feel hotter than it really is. Hence, one way to add to indoor comfort is by controlling humidity. There are two ways in which you can achieve this goal.
1. Lower the thermostat temperature – lowering the thermostat temperature will extract more heat from the air, and consequently, more moisture or humidity would be removed. The catch here is that lowering the temperature further will increase the air conditioner’s power consumption. Even then, it may not succeed in removing all the extra moisture from the air. It is because your AC’s prime job is to provide cooling and not remove humidity. So you are more or less back to square one.
2. Install A Dehumidifier – A more effective way to remove humidity is by installing a whole-home dehumidifier or purchasing a portable one. Since its prime job is to get rid of excess humidity, it will serve you much better.
Conclusion
In summers, the ideal AC temperature for daytime is 78 degrees Fahrenhecasit, and at night the temperature should be within the range of 60 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, lifestyle and other changes around the house will make you feel more comfortable when indoors without adding to your household’s energy consumption. In the end, you need to decide what works the best for you.
Aztil Air Conditioning in West Palm Beach, Florida, is always available at your service to solve all your HVAC concerns and problems. We are a dedicated team of 100+ thoroughly trained and certified technicians equipped with state-of-the-art instruments. You can avail of our services for HVAC repairs, maintenance, and installation and also book us for air duct cleaning and providing indoor air quality solutions. Our offices are always open, so pick up the phone at your convenience and call +1-888-729-8452. We are looking forward to hearing from you.
