If you want to save some money on cooling costs this summer, you may need to invest a little sweat equity. The ideal temperature for your family in the Georgetown area will ultimately balance your desire to stay on budget with everyday comfort requirements. Luckily, there are a few tips that will help you shed high energy bills without shedding all your clothes this summer. The DTC team has put together this guide to help you adjust your thermostat in various scenarios. So, keep reading to beat the heat economically during torrid Texas summers.
While You Are Home
The EPA says that you should set your air conditioners to 78º degrees and leave them there to save money on your energy bill. However, you may prefer a different approach that takes extenuating circumstances into account. Here are the major factors in how cool your home remains:
- Number of people
- Amount of physical activity
- Humidity levels
- Direct sunlight
- Window treatments
What’s the best thermostat setting for your home? It will be higher if you have a large, active family and tons of direct sunlight and lower if you live alone and invest in blackout curtains. The pros at DTC encourage you to play around with the settings and call us if you’d like some professional advice on HVAC summer savings.
Is 72º a Good Summer Thermostat Setting?
Many Texans run their thermostats at 72º degrees to beat the summer heat. However, you can keep your cool without running up your energy costs. Adjusting your thermostat by one degree (over 72º degrees) can save you up to 3% on your utility bill. By dressing in lighter clothing and pulling the curtains, you can help keep your home comfortable at higher settings.
If you have set your AC at 72º degrees in previous summers, gradually increase the temperature. You may find that raising the temperature to 74º degrees doesn’t impact your comfort significantly. As your body adjusts to the new temperature, you can begin to enjoy real savings.
Should I Lower the Thermostat During a Heatwave?
Temperatures in Georgetown average around 85º degrees during the summer, but triple-digit temperatures north of 100º degrees are also common. Your AC works overtime to cool your home to the thermostat settings. To preserve your equipment and keep costs under control, consider raising the temperature to around 75º or 80º degrees.
What Is the 20-degree Rule for ACs?
Most ACs have a hard time handling settings that exceed outside temperatures by 20 degrees. If it’s 101º degrees outside, you may want to raise your thermostat to 81º degrees. Otherwise, your overworked AC could end up breaking down. Our licensed HVAC technicians can provide AC maintenance to optimize your existing system or recommend a tried-and-true brand that will work efficiently to cool your home in extreme heat.
Why Isn’t My AC Reaching the Right Temperature?
Setting your AC more than 20 degrees higher than the temperature outside isn’t a good idea. At lower temperatures, your cooling system will run continuously without reaching the thermostat settings. Programmable thermostats allow you to adjust your temperature settings remotely. So, lower your AC by 7 to 10 degrees when no one’s home for even more summer HVAC savings.
The Importance of AC Maintenance
Ideally, you should call us to perform summer AC maintenance in early to late spring. However, it’s never too late to schedule a tune-up to boost HVAC performance this summer. Contact the team at DTC in Georgetown today to schedule AC services or learn more about the ideal settings that save you money.
