The Best AC Temperature Setting for Efficiency & Comfort

Did you know air conditioning cost approximately $29 billion to homeowners each year, with your AC using 6% of all energy produced in the United States? That’s a lot of money. But there are ways you can cut this expense down. In addition to making sure your air conditioning is in tip-top shape, you can also choose a certain AC temperature to lower your monthly bill. Let’s take a look at what the most efficient AC temperature settings are to save you money.

Best Winter Temperature Settings For Arizona Heaters

There is no all-time best AC or heater temperature for winter or summer. The correct setting varies depending on the climate you live in. If you’re living in a dry arid desert climate—like we have here in Arizona—you’ll be more acclimated to higher temperatures. And the converse is true for those living in cold climates. To maintain the balance between comfort and efficiency, you want to keep your thermostat 5-10 degrees cooler than your ideal indoor temperature in the winter.

Most of us like to be warm and snuggly at night, at the perfect sleeping room temperature. Even when you bring out the wool blankets, fuzzy socks and flannel pajamas, breathing in cold air while you sleep can still be annoying. However, if you can bear it, keeping your thermostat at 64-68 degrees at night can put a major dent in your electricity bill.

Best Summer AC Temperature Settings for Arizona Homes

What is the most efficient AC temperature setting for those hot and humid summers? Again, there is no magic setting. The ideal air conditioning temperature for summer in your home will depend on your comfort and eagerness to save. You’ll save an estimated 3% on your AC costs for every degree you raise the temperature.

A programmable thermostat makes it a lot easier to maintain the best temperatures. But if your daily schedule changes regularly, it may do just as well to manually adjust your AC temperature. When someone is at home, the best summer AC temperature to set it on is 78 degrees Fahrenheit. And 85 degrees when you’re out of the home.

If you and your family leave for a long weekend, and you don’t leave any animals in the house, you can set your thermostat to 88. Just remember to put any fruits, vegetables, chocolate, or the like in the refrigerator.

You can still stay warm and snuggly in your bed by setting the thermostat to 82 and using a light sheet for your bed rather than a comforter.

How Should Humidity Versus Dry Air Affect Your Thermostat?

Air conditioning in the desert versus humid climates will look and feel different. Humidity does affect how we perceive temperature. Because we can’t sweat as much in high humidity due to the moisture in the air, we feel warmer than the temperature suggests.

You can take this into account when adjusting your thermostat. For desert climates like Arizona, the air will be only minimally affected by humidity.

Extra Tips for Lowering Your Air Conditioning or Heating Bill

There are many energy-saving myths out there, and you want to make sure you are getting legitimate tips.

For setting your heater in the winter months, try: 

  • Checking for and remedying all drafts in your home
  • Leaving the oven open after baking
  • Running ceiling fans in reverse to push warm air down

For setting your AC in the summer months, ideas include: 

  • Unplugging not-in-use appliances
  • Opening windows to let out the heat at night
  • Covering your windows to block out sunlight

Keeping Your AC Temperature Running Efficiently In Gold Canyon Arizona 

Money doesn’t grow on trees. You want to stretch your hard-earned dollar as far as it can go. And using the best Arizona thermostat settings is a great place to start.

Do you need help with your AC unit? Contact the HVAC experts in Gold Canyon, Arizona at Mark Daniels Air Conditioning & Heating AZ today to fix your Air Conditioner today — Email us or call (480) 464-0068.