The Best Thermostat Setting for Comfort, Health, and Lower AC Bills

Is there a perfect AC thermostat setting? It is a complicated question, with many facets and some commonsense answers. Let’s look at some basic considerations.

Comfort and Health Considerations

Heating and air conditioning have made a deep impact on modern homes. Air conditioning makes living in the deep south comfortable and healthy. Heating makes the same difference in colder climates. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system replaces more dangerous and unhealthy heating and cooling options. The “right” AC thermostat decision will be based on temperatures that protect health and comfort.

• Family members with health issues may need special consideration concerning temperature
• Family members who are very young or very old may need special consideration

Other setting decisions may affect energy efficiency and energy costs, but health concerns may override these decisions.

• Comfort is a personal preference. Expect it to vary significantly between family members and for individuals in different seasons of life.
• Older homes with poor insulation, abundant drafts, and extra high ceilings may require a different temperature setting, since heat rises and the floors will be colder than normal.

Saving Energy Made Easy: How to Choose the Optimal Thermostat Setting for Your Home

Human tolerance for temperature variations is actually quite broad; we participate in outdoor activities, from skiing to surfing. Energy experts realize that we can find comfort inside using these tolerances and save considerable energy.

• The generally accepted range for comfort lies between 680 and 720 Fahrenheit
• However, a family might tolerate summertime temperatures indoors in a range from 750 to 780 while the family is awake, and 720 to 750 while sleeping. Temperature settings above 780 during the summer reduce the number of cooling cycles and do not remove sufficient humidity from indoor air.
• A family might tolerate wintertime temperatures indoors in the normal range, 680 to 720, but drop the temperature while sleeping to 670 to 600.
• Raising the temperature by 100 during the summer while the family is away is considered prudent (remember the 780 threshold). Lowering the temperature by 100 during the winter while the family is away is also considered prudent.

These figures are significant since they save energy and make the whole system work efficiently. Saving energy saves money as well. The savings are measurable. Research shows that a savings of 1-3% savings for every degree of temperature change. This temperature change needs to last for eight hours or more.

All these tolerances and temperature changes seem very complex and hard to handle. However, a modern AC thermostat is programmable; these setting changes can be scheduled automatically according to preference. As you investigate scheduling changes, remember:

• Do not ignore health needs to achieve energy savings.
• For temperature changes to lower energy bills, the change needs to total eight hours or more. Focus on overnight changes or while the family is away during the day.
• Use your programmable AC thermostat to simplify the desired setting changes at the appropriate times.

Maximize Savings: Get the Most from Your AC Thermostat by Scheduling Pro AC Maintenance

Optimal comfort and efficiency start with finding the perfect AC thermostat setting, but they are maintained by a healthy HVAC system. Before adjusting your programmable thermostat for seasonal savings, ensure your unit is ready to handle the varying demands without strain. Call R.M. Mullinix AC today to schedule a professional maintenance appointment. Our experts will inspect your system and AC thermostat settings to ensure it runs efficiently and reliably, giving you the best results from your chosen settings.

For more information about R.M. Mullinix and our AC maintenance College Station, schedule an appointment or visit our AC repair and maintenance information page.