In this article…
- The Perfect Temperature To Set Your Thermostat To In The Summer And The Best Schedule To Save Money On Utility Bills
- Risks Of Overrunning Your AC During The Summer
- Creating A Cooling Schedule For Your Home To Save Money On Utility Bills
- Tips To Maintain Your HVAC System In The Summer
After a long day enjoying the summer sunshine, having a backyard barbeque, or even walking down the driveway to pick up your mail, the first thing you crave is to walk into a perfectly-cooled home.
Some prefer to keep their home at a comfortable 74 degrees while others like to keep it cozy and wear a sweatshirt indoors at 68 degrees inside.
Every homeowner or apartment dweller has their individual likes and needs and knows what temperature is too hot for them and what is too cold.
However, when living in an area with constant heat advisories, like San Antonio, you know that overworking your HVAC unit can cause problems and leave you with no air conditioning (and nobody wants that).
Can I run my AC low in the summer? Is there a perfect temperature to keep it at to protect my unit from outages? What happens if I overwork my AC?
These are just a few questions any homeowner ponders once outside temperatures start rising, and you want answers.
As a trusted San Antonio HVAC service company since 1979, Wright Home Services has helped thousands of homeowners and businesses properly maintain their HVAC systems and keep them cool during the summer.
From full system replacements to minor repairs, our goal is to provide you with all the information you need to keep your system running efficiently and keep you comfortable before having to pick up the phone and call a professional.
To help you this summer, we’re going to outline the perfect temperature to set your AC at to keep you comfortable, save money on energy bills, and ensure your HVAC won’t give out.
The Perfect Temperature To Set Your Thermostat To In The Summer
Once temperatures start to reach the upper 90s and peak over 100, it’s no secret you want to find an oasis in a cool, comfortable home when you step inside.
One of the biggest risks you may take during these scorching months is setting your thermostat too low when the outdoor temperatures are extremely high.
It’s important to be cautious of what temperature you set your AC at to ensure you stay cool while protecting your HVAC unit as well.
So, what temperature should you set your thermostat to during the summer?
It’s best to keep your thermostat set around 74-78 degrees Fahrenheit during the day when temperatures range from upper 80s to above 100.
A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that your AC typically only cools between 20–25 degrees lower than the outside temperature. This means if it is 95 degrees outside, even if your AC is running constantly, it most likely will not cool your home lower than 70-75 degrees.
Why Is This The Best Temperature?
As Texans, we understand better than anyone how important your comfort is when summer temperatures become borderline miserable.
While it can be tempting to crank your thermostat down to the 60s after a long, hot day, keeping your AC at around 73-78 degrees is ideal for maintaining the efficiency of your system. But…why?
Remember how we said that your system can typically only cool your home about 20-25 degrees lower than the outside temperature?
Say, for example, it’s 103 degrees outside, and you set your AC down to 69 degrees because you want a refreshing chill when relaxing in your home.
Because it is so hot outside, your HVAC system is already working hard to pump out energy and get your home to the ideal temperature. You hear your AC running and running and running for hours, but the temperature will not hit 69 degrees. This means your system is wasting energy to attempt to meet an unachievable goal.
Constantly running your AC puts more wear and tear on the entire system, creating several problems and potentially leaving you with no AC at all.
Risks Of Overrunning Your AC During The Summer
The harder and the more your system works, it becomes weathered, its lifespan decreases, and you risk experiencing more problems shortly.
Overworking your AC in the summer can create several headaches, including
- The need for frequent repairs and replacements of various parts
- Short-circuiting your unit
- Having no AC for a while
- Requiring a full-system replacement
The biggest risk of running your AC too low in the summer is the damage it causes to your system. This leads to constant costs for repairs, replacements, and, in the worst case, needing a full-system replacement, which can cost you anywhere from $6,000 – $30,000.
Setting your thermostat in the mid to upper 70s during the summer is ideal to stay comfortable, protect your HVAC system, and ensure your system stays running all year long.
Creating A Cooling Schedule For Your Home To Save Money On Utility Bills
Many of us enjoy sleeping in cooler temperatures than our daily average. Science proves that our bodies sleep better in cooler environments to slow our heart rates and sink into sleep.
Setting your thermostat higher during the hottest hours of the day allows you to conserve energy and protect your unit to keep things cooler in the evening.
Whether you have a smart thermostat or not, setting your thermostat warmer during the day and cooler during the evenings will ensure your comfort and maintain the efficiency of your system.
It’s also important to remember to up the temperature in your home if you will be gone for a long period of time, whether just for the day or for an extended vacation.
7 Tips To Maintain Your HVAC System In The Summer
Now that you understand the best temperature to set your thermostat in the summer, the why, and what risks are involved with overrunning your AC, you can ensure your AC is set to the proper temperature to stay comfortable and protect your HVAC system all summer long.
During the hottest time of the year, the last thing you want is to have no AC.
If you continuously have your HVAC system attempting to cool your home to an unachievable temperature, it’s going to give out. Overworking the system can cause certain parts, or even the entire system, to fail.
System failure not only leaves you with more costs to repair or replace components of the system, but it also leaves you with no AC for some time, causing discomfort and frustration for your entire household.
Taking preventative measures and properly maintaining your system ensures a healthy, long-lasting system that is reliable and long-lasting.
At Wright Home Services, we’re not only here to provide top-notch HVAC repairs and replacements. We’re here to answer all your questions and educate you on all you need to know regarding your system, from cost to warranty to finding the right company for you.
It’s no secret that the summer is the busiest time of year for the HVAC industry. Systems are put into overdrive to cool homes and businesses, meaning any underlying problems are brought to the surface.
Knowing how to care for your HVAC system properly and provide routine maintenance guarantees your system continues to function efficiently and lasts.
To make sure your system lasts all summer long with little to no problems, check out this article that outlines seven tips to maintain your HVAC unit, like washing the exterior unit, flushing drain lines, and more. Then, you can increase the efficiency of your system, protect your system against a potential shutoff, and save money on utility bills and repair costs.
Does your AC need repair this summer? Schedule your service with Wright Home Services for high-quality craftsmanship and care for your home. We treat people Wright!
