What’s The Best Thermostat Setting In The Summer?

Agreeing on the ideal thermostat setting when you have multiple people living in your household can be a source of disagreements and even heated debates sometimes. Obviously, everyone has their own comfort levels.

The U.S Department of Energy (USDOE) has this advice. When you’re home and awake, keep your air conditioning system at 78°F.

To conserve energy and money, it’s best to shut off the cooling system during the hours you’re away for the day. Why waste money cooling an empty house?

Conserve while still keeping cool

There is some flexibility involved, says the DOE. Setting your thermostat on one standard comfort level won’t automatically keep your electric bills low. Track the outside temperature and if it’s a cooler than normal day, raise your thermostat setting accordingly to save some of your precious energy dollars.

And when you return to a warm house, don’t make the common mistake of turning down your thermostat as far as it will go. This will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense

Here are a few other ways to keep your cool, according to energy.gov

• Using a ceiling fan in conjunction with your air conditioning will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort.
• Remember to turn off ceiling fans when you leave the room; fans cool people, not rooms, because they create a wind chill effect.
• When you shower or take a bath, use the bathroom fan to remove the heat and humidity from your home. Your laundry room might also benefit from spot ventilation. Make sure bathroom and kitchen fans are vented to the outside (not just to the attic).

Program your thermostat

Studies show that about nine out of ten people say they’ve rarely or never programmed their thermostat because they’re not sure how to do it. That’s a shame, considering that managing the temperature of your home is one of the easiest ways to save energy and lower heating and cooling expenses.

If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, getting one is a smart move: When used correctly, it will pay for itself in just a short time. If you opt for a Wi-Fi thermostat, you can even control your home’s temperature from your smartphone.

With a programmable thermostat, you can program your A/C or heat) to shut off 20-30 minutes before you leave home each day; program the temperature setting to normal comfort levels 20 to 30 minutes before you come home.

* You also have the ability to program reductions in heating or cooling to begin 60 minutes before you go to sleep; return them to normal comfort levels about 30 minutes before you get out of bed.

Feel free to contact us to find out the many ways we can help you save money on keeping your home comfortable.

PitStop Fuels is your reliable full-service fuel delivery and heating equipment services provider that your neighbors all over York County and Cumberland County use for their heating oil and propane delivery and for installation and servicing of their Maine home heating and comfort equipment.