Best Thermostat Setting for Summer

Every family seems to have a few “Dad Rules.”

“Turn off the lights when you leave the room.”

“Shut the refrigerator door.”

“Were you born in a barn?”

And of course:

“I’m not paying to cool the entire neighborhood!”

It turns out Dad may have known a thing or two about energy efficiency.

When summer temperatures climb in Parker, Colorado, your air conditioner can become one of the hardest-working systems in your home. Small decisions about your thermostat, air filters, blinds and even furniture placement can affect how comfortable your home feels and how hard your AC has to work.

So in honor of dads everywhere, let’s settle one of the great household debates:

What is the best thermostat setting for summer?

What Should You Set Your Thermostat to in Summer?

There isn’t one perfect temperature that works for every home and every family.

Some people are perfectly comfortable at 78°F.

Others start sweating just thinking about it.

The best general rule is to set your thermostat as high as you can while still being comfortable.

For many Parker homeowners, somewhere around 76°F to 78°F can be a good starting point when trying to balance comfort and energy use.

If 72°F is what keeps your family comfortable, that’s fine too. Just understand that the lower you set your thermostat compared with the temperature outside, the harder your cooling system generally has to work.

You don’t need to suffer in your own house to save energy.

The goal is to find the highest temperature where your family is still comfortable.

What Should You Set Your Thermostat to When You’re Away?

If nobody is home for several hours, there’s usually no reason to keep the house at the same temperature you prefer when everyone is sitting in the living room.

Try raising the thermostat several degrees while you’re away.

Depending on your home, your comfort preferences and how long you’ll be gone, that may mean something around 78°F to 82°F.

Then bring the temperature back down when you’re home.

A programmable or smart thermostat makes this much easier because you don’t have to remember to adjust it every time you walk out the door.

You can create a schedule that automatically raises the temperature when the house is empty and starts cooling again before everyone gets home.

That’s one Dad Rule you don’t even have to remember.

What Should You Set Your Thermostat to at Night?

Your ideal sleeping temperature is personal.

Some people need a cool bedroom to sleep comfortably. Others don’t mind it warmer.

If you sleep better at a lower temperature, lowering the thermostat a few degrees at night is perfectly reasonable.

The key is avoiding extreme thermostat changes that aren’t actually improving your comfort.

Instead of making dramatic adjustments, experiment with small changes until you find a nighttime temperature that works for your family.

Ceiling fans can also help you feel cooler without requiring your AC to do all the work.

Just remember another Dad Rule:

Turn the fan off when you leave the room.

Fans cool people. They don’t actually lower the temperature of an empty room.

Does Setting the Thermostat Lower Cool Your House Faster?

This is one of the most common air conditioning myths we hear.

Your house feels hot.

The thermostat says 78°F.

You want it to be 72°F.

So you set the thermostat to 65°F because you want the AC to “really kick in.”

Unfortunately, your air conditioner doesn’t work like the accelerator in your car.

Setting the thermostat dramatically lower does not make a typical air conditioner magically cool the house faster.

If your home is 78°F and you want it to reach 72°F, setting the thermostat to 65°F usually just tells the system to keep running after it reaches 72°F.

It can lead to unnecessary cooling, higher energy use and more runtime than you actually wanted.

Set the thermostat to the temperature you want.

Then let the system do its job.

Dad wins this argument too.

Why Does One Degree Make a Difference?

Your air conditioner is constantly working against the temperature outside.

The bigger the difference between the outdoor temperature and your thermostat setting, the more cooling your home requires.

Think about a hot Parker afternoon.

If it’s 95°F outside and you’re trying to maintain 68°F inside, your cooling system has a much bigger job than if you’re comfortable at 76°F.

That doesn’t mean you need to keep your house at 80°F all summer.

It simply means that small thermostat adjustments can make a difference.

If your home feels perfectly comfortable at 74°F instead of 72°F, those two degrees may reduce how much your AC has to run.

7 Dad-Approved Ways to Help Your AC This Summer

Your thermostat isn’t the only thing that affects cooling costs.

A few simple habits can make it easier for your HVAC system to keep your home comfortable.

1. Change Your Air Filter

This is one of the simplest things homeowners can do.

A dirty filter can restrict airflow and make your HVAC system work harder.

How often you need to change it depends on the filter, your home, pets and other factors, but many common filters should be checked regularly and replaced roughly every one to three months.

And yes, writing the date on the filter when you install it is a very Dad thing to do.

We’re fine with it.

2. Close Blinds During the Hottest Part of the Day

Colorado sunshine pouring through your windows can add heat to your home.

Closing blinds, curtains or shades on windows that receive strong direct sunlight can help reduce some of that heat gain.

It’s especially helpful during the hottest part of the afternoon.

3. Don’t Block Your Supply Vents

Take a quick walk around the house.

Is a couch covering a vent?

Is a rug sitting over a floor register?

Did somebody push a dresser directly in front of an air return?

Your HVAC system needs to move air throughout the home.

Make sure vents and returns have room to do their jobs.

4. Keep the Outdoor AC Unit Clear

Your outdoor air conditioning unit needs airflow too.

Keep leaves, grass clippings, weeds and other debris away from the equipment.

Don’t stack patio furniture, garden supplies or other objects against it.

Give the system room to breathe.

5. Use Ceiling Fans Wisely

Fans can help you feel cooler by moving air across your skin.

That may allow you to keep the thermostat a little higher while still feeling comfortable.

But don’t leave every fan in the house running all day.

Turn them off when the room is empty.

Dad would approve.

6. Use Your Thermostat Schedule

If you have a programmable thermostat, actually program it.

If you have a smart thermostat, take advantage of its scheduling, occupancy or away features.

You don’t need your AC maintaining your favorite living-room temperature for eight hours while everyone is at work or school.

7. Keep Up With AC Maintenance

Your air conditioner works hard during a Colorado summer.

Regular professional maintenance gives an HVAC technician an opportunity to inspect the equipment, check operation and identify potential problems before you’re dealing with a no-cooling call on one of the hottest days of the year.

It’s a little like changing the oil in your car.

Ignoring it because “everything seems fine” isn’t necessarily the best long-term strategy.

Why Is My AC Running Constantly?

Your AC will naturally run longer during very hot weather.

But if it seems like your system never shuts off, or it runs constantly without getting your home comfortable, that’s worth investigating.

Possible causes can include:

• A dirty air filter
• Airflow problems
• Thermostat issues
• Dirty HVAC components
• Ductwork problems
• Low refrigerant caused by a leak
• An aging or inefficient system
• Equipment that isn’t properly matched to the home
• Another mechanical issue

Constant runtime doesn’t automatically mean you need a new air conditioner.

It does mean something should probably be checked.

Why Won’t My House Cool Down to the Thermostat Setting?

Let’s say your thermostat is set to 72°F, but your home stays at 76°F or 78°F.

That’s different from simply preferring a colder house.

If the system is running for long periods and genuinely cannot reach the thermostat setting, there could be an issue with the equipment or the home.

Before assuming the worst, check a few simple things:

Is your filter dirty?

Are all your vents open and unobstructed?

Is your thermostat set to COOL?

Is the outdoor unit running?

Are doors or windows open?

If everything looks normal and the house still isn’t cooling properly, it’s time to have the system inspected.

Can a Smart Thermostat Lower Your Cooling Costs?

A smart thermostat isn’t going to magically transform an inefficient air conditioner into an efficient one.

What it can do is make temperature management much easier.

Depending on the thermostat, features may include:

• Automatic schedules
• Remote temperature control
• Away settings
• Geofencing
• Occupancy detection
• Energy-use information
• Temperature sensors for different rooms

The biggest advantage is consistency.

Instead of relying on someone to remember to turn the thermostat up every morning before leaving for work, the thermostat can handle those adjustments automatically.

That can help eliminate unnecessary cooling without requiring your family to think about it every day.

What Temperature Is Too Low for Your AC?

There’s no prize for having the coldest house on the block.

Setting your thermostat extremely low during hot weather can lead to long cooling cycles, increased energy use and unnecessary strain without providing the benefit you expect.

If your house feels uncomfortable unless the thermostat is set unusually low, there may be another issue worth looking into.

Humidity, airflow, insulation, ductwork and equipment performance can all affect how comfortable a home feels.

Sometimes the answer isn’t simply:

“Turn the thermostat down again.”

When a High Electric Bill Could Be an AC Warning Sign

Summer electric bills naturally tend to increase when your air conditioner is running more.

But pay attention to unusual changes.

If your cooling habits haven’t changed but your electric bills suddenly jump compared with previous summers, your HVAC system may be working harder than it used to.

Combine that with other warning signs such as:

• Longer cooling cycles
• Uneven temperatures
• Warm rooms
• Strange noises
• Frequent repairs
• Weak airflow
• An older AC system

…and it’s worth having the system evaluated.

Higher energy use doesn’t automatically mean your air conditioner needs to be replaced, but it can be one piece of the puzzle.

Frequently Asked Questions About Summer Thermostat Settings

Is 72°F a good thermostat setting for summer?

72°F is comfortable for many homeowners, but it isn’t necessarily the most energy-efficient setting. Generally, the higher you can comfortably set your thermostat during cooling season, the less work your air conditioner has to do.

Is 78°F too hot for a house?

That depends entirely on your family. Some homeowners are comfortable at 78°F, while others prefer the house several degrees cooler. Start with a temperature you find comfortable and experiment with raising it one degree at a time.

Should I turn my AC off when I leave the house?

Usually, there’s no need to completely shut off your cooling system every time you leave. Raising the thermostat several degrees can reduce unnecessary cooling while still protecting the home from excessive heat.

Will setting my thermostat to 65°F cool my house faster?

No. On a typical residential air conditioning system, dramatically lowering the thermostat doesn’t make the system cool the house faster. It generally causes the AC to continue running until the lower temperature is reached.

Should I leave my thermostat at one temperature all day?

Not necessarily. If your home is empty for several hours, raising the cooling temperature can reduce unnecessary energy use. Programmable and smart thermostats make these temperature changes easy to automate.

Why does my AC run all day when it’s hot outside?

Longer runtime can be normal during extreme heat, but an AC that constantly runs and cannot maintain a comfortable indoor temperature may need professional attention.

Maybe Dad Really Did Know Best

Turn off the lights.

Close the door.

Don’t stand there with the refrigerator open.

And stop trying to cool the entire neighborhood.

Some Dad Rules have survived for a reason.

A few small changes in how you use your thermostat and take care of your cooling system can help your AC do its job without working harder than necessary.

And if your system is still struggling despite doing all the right things, don’t keep lowering the thermostat and hoping for the best.

Let us take a look.

At First String Heating, we help homeowners in Parker, Colorado and surrounding areas understand what’s happening with their heating and cooling systems and what their options are.

If your home isn’t cooling properly, your AC seems to run constantly, or you just want to make sure your system is ready for summer, give us a call.

Call First String Heating at (303) 250-4422.

We’ll help keep your family comfortable so Dad can get back to worrying about who left the lights on.