When the heat and humidity of a Minnesota summer day are at your door, it may seem like a good idea to crank up the AC — until you get the utility bill. Unfortunately, the lower you set your thermostat in the summer, the higher your energy bill will be. When it comes to a home's temperature, everyone's comfort level or preferred temperature will be slightly different. The HVAC technicians at Bloomington Heating & Air have put together this guide on the best temperature setting AC in summer and how to stay comfortable with a higher indoor temperature.
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What's The Best Temperature?
While many homeowners may say that they set their home temperature to 72 degrees in the summer, the Department of Energy states that number is too low and recommends setting your home to 78 degrees during the summer.
How To Stay Comfortable With Hotter Temperatures
While 78 degrees might seem too hot for many Minnesota residents, there are some ways that you can raise the temperature while staying comfortable. Of course, increasing the temperature doesn't have to make you uncomfortable, so we have outlined some ways to do this without sacrificing your comfort, including the following.
Replace Your Air Conditioning Unit
If it has been a decade or more since your HVAC system was installed, a new AC unit can make your home more efficient. Newer systems typically have a variable-speed fan and two-stage cooling capabilities. This can keep your home cooler more consistently, even on a lower setting. These can even run longer without excess energy use and removes more humidity from the air.
Raise The Temperature When No One Is Home
If you aren't home, you can't be uncomfortable. We recommend raising the temperature of your home to be as close to the outdoor temperature as possible. This can slow down the flow of heat into your home, making your air conditioner work more efficiently while saving you money on your energy bill.
Cut Down On Your Expenses
While keeping your thermostat set below 78 is comfortable, it could increase the cost of energy bills along with shortening the lifespan of your AC system. Keeping your thermostat on can cause the air conditioner to work harder, shortening its life. If the AC unit continues to run overtime, you may find yourself replacing it sooner than anticipated, which could cost you thousands of dollars.
Invest In A Box Or Ceiling Fan
A box or ceiling fan can help keep you comfortable even if the indoor temperature is high. But you can also save energy by opening a window at night rather than using a fan or lowering the temperature. Box fans can even be placed in an open window to let in more cool air. This lets in the cool fresh air and helps your AC to work less.
Slowly Increase The Temperature
78 degrees isn't the ideal temperature for everyone, so we recommend raising the temperature by one degree every week during the summer. This can help your family to adjust to the indoor temperature slowly but surely.