If you’re asking Google, “What temperature should I set my thermostat?” you may be wondering how to lower your electricity bills this summer. It’s true that increasing the temperature in the summer will lower your cooling bills. However, you shouldn’t have to be hot and uncomfortable just to save a few bucks. If your AC is properly installed and maintained, you should be comfortable and your bills should be reasonable. If neither of those is true, then it’s time to call a certified HVAC technician to come out and take a look at your central air conditioner.
What temperature should I set my thermostat?
Everyone has different preferences and comfort levels. Therefore, the answer to the question “what temperature should I set my thermostat?” may vary. Your preferred temperature range might be completely different from your partner’s preferred range. Oftentimes, you need to make a compromise keep everyone in the household happy. If you prefer the house to be at 78 to 80 degrees, but your partner prefers 70 to 73 degrees, a good compromise might be about 75 degrees.
However, if you ask a power company representative, “What temperature should I set my thermostat?” they will likely advise you to set it at 78 degrees. That’s the temperature recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE further notes that if you can tolerate a higher temperature in the summer, you should raise the thermostat further for greater savings.
What temperature should I set my thermostat while at work?
Of course, you can reduce your electricity bills by increasing the temperature while the family is away from home. You can bump up the thermostat to about 88 degrees. Note that you shouldn’t shut off the AC entirely while you’re away from home. During the summer in Southern Arizona, the temperature indoors can climb to well above 100 degrees. If you have pets, they could suffer life-threatening heatstroke. Even if you don’t have pets, sensitive electronics and other possessions may suffer damage from very hot temperatures. Plus, you’ll actually lose money because your air conditioner must work much harder to cool the house down once the AC is back on.
Unfortunately, many people don’t increase the temperature much while away from home. They worry that it will take the house a long time to cool back down when they return home. You can avoid this problem by having an HVAC technician install a smart thermostat. Simply use the app on your smartphone to turn the temperature down about an hour before you expect to arrive home. Alternatively, you can program the thermostat in advance.
Why is my electric bill so high?
Have you been increasing the temperature to the point of discomfort, yet your electric bill is still ridiculously high? It’s time to call the HVAC company. There are many possible reasons for higher than normal energy costs. However, one of the most common is that the HVAC company installed your AC improperly. In fact, about 90% of the central ACs in Arizona have been installed improperly.
Sometimes, the installed unit is too large for the home. In other cases, the unit is too small for the home. Both of these issues are problematic because the AC is forced to work harder or go into short cycling. This shortens the overall lifespan and decreases energy efficiency. As a result, you’ll have higher energy bills.
In addition, it’s possible that your ductwork has air leaks. This also results in higher bills, as well as a decline in the home’s comfort level. Another possibility is that your central air conditioner is simply getting old. Older units weren’t manufactured to the high energy efficiency standards that we have today. And over time, they are susceptible to damage from wear and tear. It may be time to talk to an HVAC technician about installing a brand new central air conditioner. If so, be sure to get one that is Energy Star-rated. The technician can help you understand the different ratings and recommend a system that is appropriately sized for your home.
Should I schedule a whole house energy audit?
If your central AC is relatively new, but you’re still seeing high electricity bills, you can schedule a whole house energy audit. The HVAC technician will go through your entire home looking for air leaks and similar problems. He or she will pay particular attention to the ductwork to figure out where you could be losing energy. At the end of the audit, you will receive a written report with recommendations for improving your home’s energy efficiency.
Still wondering “What temperature should I set my thermostat?” You shouldn’t have to sacrifice comfort in order to keep your electricity bills reasonable. Just call the certified HVAC technicians at Intelligent Design. We’re the number one rated HVAC company in Southern Arizona, serving homeowners and businesses in Tucson and beyond. We can recommend an energy-efficient central AC if yours is reaching the end of its lifespan. Alternatively, we can conduct a whole house energy audit to figure out where you’re losing energy efficiency and to fix these problems. Get in touch today at (520) 655-7595.