There’s nothing quite like walking into a cool, crisp house from the hot summer sun. What isn’t fun, however, is seeing an exorbitant electric bill from running your air conditioning day in and day out.
You have air conditioning to keep your home comfortable, but you shouldn’t need to pay an arm and a leg for cooling costs. Fortunately, there are ideal thermostat temperature settings for summer that can balance your desire for comfort with your need for reasonable energy costs.
What’s the Ideal Thermostat Setting?
Experts determined the best temperature for both the winter and summer seasons. The idea behind the perfect temperature is to keep the difference between the indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature as minimal as possible, ensuring that your HVAC system doesn’t have to work too hard.
In winter, the best temperature is 68°F. In the summer months, it’s 78°F. This keeps your home feeling cooler than outside, but it’s not such a dramatic difference that your AC will work overtime and drive up your energy costs.
Not everyone likes the same temperature, however. Your household must agree on a temperature, rather than having everyone adjust the thermostat on their own. Settling on the best thermostat setting is a good start.
If your family members are resistant to the change, try implementing it slowly. Start by raising or lowering the temperature by only a degree or so each day, which gives everyone time to get acclimated.
Another option is to turn the thermostat up at night when everyone is sleeping. Our body temperature drops when we’re asleep, which makes us more tolerant of heat. With this small change, you can give your AC a rest and save a lot on energy bills.
You should also raise the temperature when you leave for work during the day. This is a long period without running your AC, and you don’t need to worry about maintaining a cool home if no one is there.
Keep in mind that pets can’t be subjected to hot, humid conditions. Dogs, cats, and small animals like rodents and birds need temperatures lower than 82°F to stay safe and comfortable, so don’t allow your thermostat to go higher than that.
How to Regulate Your Body Temperature
There are many ways you can adjust to a higher temperature inside and get to the magic number. Simple changes, such as using your ceiling fans to create a breeze and circulate the hot air could be enough to cool your home.
You could also invest in window treatments, such as window film or cooling curtains, to keep direct sunlight from heating your home. Before bed, take a cool shower to drop your body temperature and prepare to sleep.
Drink a Lot of Water
Dehydration is not only dangerous, but it can be uncomfortable. Even mild dehydration can make you feel overheated, and when you’re outside sweating, it can happen even faster. Sweating depletes a lot of your body’s fluids, and you have to drink more to replenish them.
During the hot summer months, be sure to drink plenty of water and sports drinks with electrolytes. The first sign of dehydration is thirst, so drink any time you feel like you need to. Everyone’s fluid needs are different, so just listen to your body.
Wear Summer Clothing
If you’re spending time outside in the sun, don’t automatically grab shorts and a sleeveless top. Wearing clothes that reveal a lot of bare skin leaves your skin exposed to damaging UV rays and heat, which can make you feel much hotter.
Loose-fitting clothing, such as draped tops and linen pants, allows your body to cool itself more easily than tight clothing. It’s also important to wear lightweight, breathable fabrics that don’t retain the heat.
Babies Need to be Kept, Cooler
Adults in your home may be fine with the ideal temperature, but babies need it a little cooler. They can’t regulate their body temperature or let you know that they’re hot or cold, so the wrong temperature can be dangerous.
Babies need a temperature between 65°F and 74°F. This helps them avoid overheating or getting a chill, both of which can be hazardous.
You could also avoid any issues by ensuring that your baby isn’t bundled up while sleeping. Avoid heavy blankets or hats and bonnets that hold the heat in and cause your baby to overheat.
Regulate Home Temperatures with a Smart or Programmable Thermostat
If you don’t want to deal with constantly adjusting your thermostat to keep everyone cool, invest in a smart thermostat. This device can automatically monitor the temperature and adjust it based on the time of day or patterns, such as when you leave for work and when you return home.
You can also monitor your thermostat from an app on your smartphone or laptop to raise or lower the temperature or settings as needed.
Small changes like this won’t affect you negatively, since you’ll be out of the house, but they can make a huge difference in your energy use and expenses.
Find out more about heating and cooling options with JW Plumbing, Heating and Air. Contact us today!
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