About The Author: Travis Baugh is a Digital Brand Marketing Manager for Bryant, where he creates clear, helpful content to guide homeowners through heating, cooling, and indoor air quality decisions. His goal is to empower readers with the knowledge they need to choose the right comfort solutions for their home—confidently and comfortably.
What Temperature Should You Set Your Air Conditioner to in the Summer?
By Travis Baugh
The best temperature to set your air conditioner in summer is between 75°F and 78°F when you are home. This range provides a comfortable indoor environment while maintaining energy efficiency, helping you manage utility costs without sacrificing comfort.
Finding the perfect balance for your summer AC settings is key to a comfortable and efficient home. While personal preference is important, understanding the recommended temperatures can significantly impact your energy bills. This guide will explore the ideal thermostat settings for various situations and offer proven strategies to enhance your home's cooling efficiency all season long.
What is the Best AC Temperature for Summer?
The optimal air conditioner temperature for most homes in the summer is between 75°F and 78°F. This strikes an effective balance between keeping your living space cool and minimizing energy consumption.
However, temperature is only part of the comfort equation. Humidity plays a significant role in how warm the air feels. Higher humidity can make a room feel much warmer, potentially requiring a slightly lower thermostat setting to feel comfortable. Achieving the right balance between temperature and humidity is essential for getting the most out of your air conditioning system. Learn what humidity should my house be at?
What Are the Best Summer AC Settings While Home?
During the day, setting your thermostat to around 75°F to 78°F creates a comfortable environment without excessive energy use. While individual comfort levels vary, this range is a great starting point for efficient cooling. As outside temperatures drop at night, you might consider a lower setting for a better sleeping environment.
Smart thermostats, like those compatible with the Bryant SmartHome App, offer a powerful way to enhance both comfort and efficiency. You can create custom schedules that automatically adjust the temperature based on your daily routine. For example, you can program the thermostat to a higher, energy-saving temperature while you're at work and have it automatically cool down just before you return home. This strategic approach maximizes comfort and reduces energy waste, leading to lower cooling bills.
What is a Good Energy-Saving AC Temperature When Away?
When you are away from home, you can achieve significant energy savings by adjusting your thermostat. An energy-saving AC temperature of 80°F to 85°F is recommended while you're out. This prevents your system from running unnecessarily. For extended absences like vacations, consider setting it even higher.
Modern smart thermostats give you the power to manage your home's temperature remotely. Using a smartphone app, you can make adjustments on the go, ensuring your home is perfectly comfortable upon your return while maximizing energy conservation.
What Factors Affect Your AC Temperature Settings?
Several factors influence the ideal summer AC settings for your home:
- Home Size: Larger homes often require more cooling power or slightly lower temperature settings to maintain consistent comfort throughout all rooms.
- Insulation Quality: A well-insulated home retains cool air more effectively. This allows you to use higher thermostat settings without sacrificing comfort, leading to greater energy efficiency.
- Number of Occupants: More people in a home generate more body heat. This may require a cooler temperature setting to ensure everyone stays comfortable.
- Individual Comfort: Comfort is subjective. Finding a temperature that works for everyone in the household is key. As Mike Lea, co-owner of Lea Heating & Air Conditioning notes, “I would say the most important thing I always tell customers is to find a temperature that works for them,” Lea said. “What's more important than being comfortable in your own home?”
- Local Climate: In regions with extreme summer heat, your system will work harder. Lower settings may be necessary to combat outdoor temperatures, while milder climates may only require higher, more efficient settings.
How Can You Improve Your Home’s Cooling Efficiency?
Beyond thermostat settings, you can take several steps to boost your system's efficiency:
- Perform Regular Maintenance: Maintaining your air conditioner is crucial. Replace your air filter every one to three months to prevent restricted airflow. Schedule professional AC maintenance annually to identify and resolve issues before they become major problems.
- Seal Air Leaks: Prevent cool air from escaping by sealing gaps around windows and doors. Use weatherstripping or caulk to close leaks, reducing the strain on your central air conditioner and keeping your home cooler.
Common Myths About Summer AC Settings
Misinformation can lead to higher energy bills. Here are a few common myths debunked:
- Myth: Setting the AC extra low cools the house faster.
Fact: Your AC cools at a constant rate. Setting it to 65°F won't cool your home any faster than setting it to 75°F; it will just run longer and use more energy.
- Myth: Turning the AC off when you leave saves more energy.
Fact: It often takes more energy to cool a hot house from scratch than to maintain a consistent, energy-saving temperature. It's more efficient to raise the thermostat by a few degrees.
- Myth: A one or two-degree change drastically increases your bill.
Fact: Small adjustments have a minimal impact on your monthly bill. Prioritize your comfort. "If 74 feels a lot better, go with 74," says Mike Lea. "You're probably talking about a few dollars a month difference."
“If you're air conditioning the house at 75 and 74 feels a lot better, go with 74," Lea said. "You're not talking about a big difference in efficiency cost. Even with heating, if 68 feels a little chilly, but 70 feels very good, you're probably talking about a few dollars a month difference by heating at a degree or two different in your home."
Connect With A Bryant Dealer For Your AC Needs
Looking for expert advice on the best temperature to set your AC for optimal comfort and energy savings this summer? Connect with your local Bryant dealer today! Their knowledgeable team can help you choose the proper thermostat settings, offer tips on maintaining your system for maximum efficiency throughout the season, and perform an AC tune up to prepare your unit for warm weather.
FAQs
It usually takes 2 to 3 hours for a properly sized AC to cool an average home from 80°F to 72°F, depending on insulation and outdoor temperature.
Expect about 3 to 4 hours in normal summer conditions for a well-functioning system. Poor insulation or extreme heat may extend that time.
Your thermostat may be near a heat source, or airflow could be restricted by a dirty filter or blocked vent. Checking those areas often fixes the issue.
Not necessarily. Keeping the thermostat lower increases energy use. Setting it around 76–78°F when home and higher when away saves more.
Your AC can typically cool about 20°F below the outdoor temperature, so if it’s 100°F outside, maintaining 78–80°F indoors is reasonable.
72°F provides a cool, comfortable setting for most people, but raising it slightly to 75–78°F can improve efficiency and reduce energy costs.
Set your thermostat between 76°F and 78°F, use ceiling fans for circulation, and close blinds to reduce heat gain.
Use “Auto” mode so the fan runs only when cooling is needed, saving energy and maintaining consistent humidity control.
It’s cheaper to adjust the thermostat rather than fully turning the AC off. Turning it off allows heat buildup, forcing the system to work harder later.
Fans use much less electricity than AC, but they only move air—they don’t cool it. Use fans to supplement, not replace, air conditioning.
You actually can—but running both together in a small room may make it feel drafty or too cool. If you do, raise the thermostat a few degrees to save energy.
The 20-degree rule means that a properly working air conditioner can typically cool the air about 20°F below the indoor return temperature. For example, if your home is 78°F, your vents should blow air near 58°F.
Learn More About Air Conditioners
- Learn how does air conditioning work
- Get in the know on air conditioning service
- Explore AC replacement
- Discover what size air conditioner you need
- Get help with an AC not working
- Find out how long do AC units last?
- Learn how to clean air conditioners
