What Temperature Should I Set My Thermostat in Summer?

WHAT TEMPERATURE SHOULD I SET MY THERMOSTAT IN SUMMER?

March 26th, 2023

Florida summers can be brutal. Temperatures regularly get up to 90F or even 100F and this, combined with the high humidity levels, can quickly make conditions uncomfortable at home unless the AC thermostat is set at the right temperature.

In the Fort Myers Area, the “hot season” regularly extends well over half the year. Understanding your thermostat and its setting can help you conserve energy, save money on bills, and keep home temperatures spot on.

But what temperature is right for a thermostat in summer in Florida?

And does that apply all year round?

Maintaining a comfortable temperature in Florida homes is a major contributor to energy usage, so it’s often a balancing act between comfort and keeping bills manageable.

Let’s take a closer look…

WHAT’S THE BEST TEMPERATURE FOR A THERMOSTAT IN SUMMER?

The best temperature setting for a thermostat in summer months is between 62 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s a big range depending on what you’re doing (sleeping, awake, active, at home or out of the home?) and the personal preferences of household members.

Generally, when you’re at home and awake, set your thermostat to around 70-78 degrees Fahrenheit. When you’re sleeping, set the thermostat to around 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit for the best comfort level.

This should keep you and the family comfortable while also maintaining an energy-efficient system.

STAY COOL ALL YEAR ROUND WITH ONE WAY AIR…

The team at One Way Air installs, services, and repairs all types of air conditioning systems in Southwest Florida. Get in touch with us here for a quote or call 239-233-4356 in emergencies.

What temperature should I set my thermostat when I am gone away in summer?

If you’re away for a summer break, there’s no point in wasting energy on cooling the home. Raise the thermostat above 78 degrees or turn it off completely. That’s the usual advice from reliable sources like the US Department of Energy for saving energy bills.

WHAT’S THE BEST TEMPERATURE FOR A THERMOSTAT IN WINTER?

Some people laugh at the idea of “winter” in Southwest Florida—but we do get cooler months!

The ideal setting for the thermostat temperature in these cooler months is 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re at home and awake. Again, around 62-70 degrees Fahrenheit is a more comfortable temperature for most people when they’re snuggled up in bed asleep.

THE BENEFITS OF RAISING/LOWERING THE THERMOSTAT SETTINGS

You shouldn’t need to constantly change your thermostat settings to keep your home cool unless something’s wrong with your cooling system and you need AC repairs.

Most Florida homes need cooling for most of the year—and heating far less regularly—but there are some energy-saving benefits to raising the temperature in summer and lowering it in the winter, provided it doesn’t make the home uncomfortable (that’s usually a trade-off not worth making).

Raising or lowering the thermostat by 7-10 degrees for eight hours a day can reduce annual cooling or heating expenses by as much as 10 percent according to the Department of Energy. Also, keep in mind the estimate that each degree set above 72 can save you up to 3 percent on your cooling costs.

STAY COOL ALL YEAR ROUND WITH ONE WAY AIR…

IS THERE AN IDEAL THERMOSTAT SETTING ALL YEAR ROUND?

The ideal temperature inside the home will be personal to you and your family—and beware! It can cause family disputes.

“Cool enough” and “warm enough” mean different things to different people so if several household members experience different comfort levels with the HVAC system, you will need to compromise to find a level that works for everyone.

Of course, it’s not just the cooling system that affects comfort levels. Home insulation, clothing, bedding, and other factors play important roles and may require adjusting to keep everybody happy.

WHAT IS THE BEST THERMOSTAT TEMPERATURE FOR SLEEPING?

When you sleep, your body temperature drops so you don’t want to cool the room too much unless you have very thick bedding—or it may disturb your sleep quality.

Besides, if you’re snuggled up warm and cozy beneath the blankets, cooling the home excessively is unnecessary.

If you prefer light bedding, you may find that 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit is a good temperature. For people who prefer thicker bedding, closer to 62-64 degrees Fahrenheit may be more suitable.

WHAT IS THE BEST THERMOSTAT TEMPERATURE FOR PETS?

Are you wondering if your favorite pooch or moggy is comfortable during the night when you’re sleeping?

The good news is that what’s comfortable for humans is usually similar for pets. Though dogs cannot sweat like humans, they can cool themselves down by panting and releasing heat through their paws and noses. So, 64 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit should be fine.

WHAT IS THE BEST THERMOSTAT TEMPERATURE FOR BABIES?

Babies are more susceptible to heat and cold than older children and adults. The recommended temperature in the home shouldn’t go below 65 degrees Fahrenheit or above 74—so the range is narrower for infants.

Ideally, try to keep the temperature at 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit but don’t panic if it’s a degree or two on either side.

WHAT’S THE RIGHT TYPE OF THERMOSTAT FOR MY HOME?

Thermostats all do the same thing—help you regulate the room temperature by controlling the HVAC system. How they do that varies between programmable thermostats, smart thermostats, and more traditional manual thermostats,

We recommend programmable thermostats for most homes in Florida with central air conditioning because you can set different temperature schedules for various times of the day or week and forget about it.

This helps you maintain good energy efficiency in your home—even when you’re away. For instance, if you know that you’re going to arrive home at a certain time on a certain day, you can program the cooling to start just before you get through the door. This way, you always return to a cool home but don’t waste energy.

Note, however, that programmable thermostats may not be the best option for homes that use heat pumps.

Smart thermostats take it a step further by allowing you to control the thermostat remotely from an app on your smartphone. They can also make automatic adjustments based on your habits at home.

WHERE SHOULD MY AC THERMOSTAT BE LOCATED?

Did you know that the location of your thermostat can greatly affect the cooling performance of your AC?

Most Florida homes have central AC systems. Thermostats should be located on an interior wall, out of the sunlight, and ideally near the center of the home in an often-used room, such as the living room.

You want the thermostat to measure and adjust the temperature accurately in the most-used rooms, so it’s essential to prevent “ghost readings”. That means NOT installing your thermostat in the following locations:

How can I reduce my energy bills?

This is a big question that often goes beyond AC settings. Programmable or smart thermostats that allow you to adjust the indoor temperature for less cooling when you’re at work or out for the day and more cooling when you’re at home are generally a good idea.

Ensuring good insulation with weatherstripping, closing the blinds/curtains to keep the sun out, using a ceiling fan in tandem with air conditioning, and adjusting your clothing and bedding appropriately for the time of the year all help too.

The latest energy-efficient cooling equipment and appliances around the home can also reduce energy bills.

Finally, book regular AC tune-ups so that your AC runs efficiently and make sure that if anything’s wrong, you don’t wait until the system deteriorates and guzzles energy before repairing it.

FAQs

Will my home cool faster if I lower the thermostat setting?

No, that won’t work. It will likely just increase your energy bills. Your thermostat settings affect how low or how high the temperature goes—not how quickly it gets there.

How can I cool my home quicker?

You can cool your home quicker by ensuring regular AC maintenance—ideally, twice a year before and after the hottest periods. This will maintain cooling performance and energy efficiency. If your unit is very old, you may need a replacement AC installation to improve both cooling performance and energy efficiency.

Insulating your home well prevents cool air from escaping and warm air from entering the home, which should also help cool the house down quicker.

What temperature should you keep your house at?

Depending on activity levels, the time of year, and personal preferences, maintaining a temperature between 62 and 78 degrees should cover most eventualities.

How does humidity affect temperature settings?

The high humidity in Florida can make you feel hotter at home. Running the AC fan to reduce humidity won’t help. The best solution is to install a dehumidifier and that should help with household comfort levels.

FIND THE “MAGIC” HOME TEMPERATURE SETTING

The cost of AC in Florida represents a major investment and it’s a big contributor to a home’s energy bills. It’s essential to get the right setup.

The recommended temperature settings of 62-78 degrees Fahrenheit in summer and 68-72 degrees in winter should work for most households but if the temperatures are outside your comfort zone, try small changes at first with the thermostat settings. There are usually ways to make homes comfortable without spending a fortune on energy fees.

If you’re in Southwest Florida, talk to an AC professional about achieving the ideal home cooling settings to keep you and your family comfortable all year round without raising energy bills. Contact One Way Air today.