What Temperature Should I Set My AC to This Summer?

A Frequently Asked Question

Here in New England, we have a relatively short season for air conditioning. However, when summer does throw those scorching hot days at us, you’ll want to know that your AC is up to the task of keeping you and your family cool. However, you also don’t want to break the bank. You want to find the balance between being comfortable and keeping your energy costs as low as possible.

Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to help your AC keep you comfortable without overextending it. If you make you home energy efficient, your AC won’t have to work as hard to keep your home as cool. And if you use a thermostat, you’ll set a limit to how cool your AC works to keep your home. Picking the right temperature for comfort and cost is important.

What is a good thermostat setting during the summer? For comfort and energy-efficient cooling, set your thermostat to 78 degrees during the summer. It can be tempting to lower the thermostat to a colder than normal temperature when you turn on your air conditioner, but according to the United States Department of Energy (DOE), doing so won’t cool your home any faster and could lead to excessive cooling and therefore additional (and unnecessary) energy expenses.

How can I lower my energy costs this summer? If you want to stay cool and comfortable in your New England home while keeping your energy bills under control, follow the tips below.

1. Close the curtains or use shades during the daytime to reduce the demand on your AC. A lot of unwanted heat can enter your home through its windows.
2. Make your home more energy efficient by caulking windows, installing door sweeps, and adding insulation. Doing these things will also save you money on your heating bills during the winter!
3. Avoid running heat-generating appliances inside your home. Dry your clothes outside on a line instead of in the clothes dryer. Fire up the BBQ grill and cook outside instead of using your indoor range or oven.
4. It’s always a good idea to use a programmable thermostat. Set it to 78 degrees. You can set it for even higher when your home will be empty or everyone will be asleep. For each degree higher you go, you could save 3% to 5% a day on your AC bills (according to the DOE).
5. Since hot air rises, move your mattress to the floor of your bedroom or to a lower floor in your home—possibly even your cool basement.
6. Routinely change the air filters on your AC. A clogged air filter will reduce your AC’s efficiency. You should check your air filters monthly and change or clean them according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. Better yet, make sure you get regular professional maintenance for your AC to keep it running at maximum efficiency. Scott Williams provides air conditioning maintenance in addition to AC installation and AC repair.

Maintenance Matters

You shouldn’t skip on the maintenance of your AC system. A tune-up from Scott Williams will ensure that your system runs as efficiently as possible, and efficiency saves you money. It’s also better for the environment. And if any repairs are needed, we can handle that for you too.

Out with the Old

In addition to repairs and maintenance, Scott Williams also installs new AC systems. If your system is over 15 years old, it’s time to think about an upgrade. A Scott Williams professional can perform a complete comfort analysis of your home and help you make the best decision based on your needs and budget. Then we’ll make sure it’s properly installed so that you’re comfortable no matter how hot it gets.

Leave It to Scott Williams

Just as you can trust Scott Williams to keep you warm all winter, you can trust us to help you stay cool all summer. We serve Massachusetts’s Suffolk County, Norfolk County, and Plymouth County.

Contact Scott Williams today to learn more about how we can keep you comfortable this summer.