What Is the Best Temperature for Air Conditioning in the Summer?
When summer is at its height, air conditioning can completely change our quality of life. Unfortunately, it requires a lot of electrical energy to do so, something which both costs money and can be detrimental to the environment. For this reason, we need to know how to use air conditioning responsibly. To do this, oneHOWTO asks what is the best temperature for air conditioning in the summer?
Generally speaking, the best temperature range for air conditioning in the summer is so that the room is at 78-80ºF (25-26ºC). This provides a balance of ensuring the comfort of those of us in the home, whilst minimizing energy use.
Optimal air conditioning temperature in summer
The most optimal air conditioning temperature in summer is in a range between 78-80ºF (25-26ºC). When adjusting the temperature of our air conditioning unit during the warmer seasons, there are two main aspects to take into account:
- Comfort: we want to be able to keep away from the hot temperatures which make even basic tasks difficult to carry out.
- Energy use: we want to minimize energy use so that we can afford to use the device, as well as the minimize negative environmental impact.
During summer, it is very important that you avoid a too significant temperature difference from the outside to the inside of a home. If this difference is greater than 53.6ºF (12ºC), it can negatively impact the health of those in the home. It can result in cold or flu like symptoms and help spread diseases.
We also recommend directing the flow of air from an air conditioning unit upwards. This is because the cold air is denser than hot air, making it descend. If you program the device to direct the air flow upwards, you will be able to optimize the circulation of fresh air in the room.
What is the ideal air conditioning temperature in each room?
While we describe the ideal air conditioning temperature in summer as between 78-80ºF (25-26ºC), there are variations which can be made depending on the room.
Kitchen
The kitchen is often the hottest room in the house. This is because we use it for cooking which requires hot temperatures to cook the food correctly and safely. In these cases, the best temperature range for a kitchen air conditioner is 74-76ºF (23-24ºC). This is slightly lower to compensate for the greater ambient temperature of the room.
However, it is also important to remember there are other factors which influence kitchen temperatures. For this reason, we need to keep the kitchen door closed so we don't spread heat throughout the house. Exhaust fans are used to extract smoke and strong smells caused by cooking, but they can also be used to keep it cool by drawing out hot air.
You can also use fans to blow the heat away from anyone cooking. Finally, it is best to do the most cooking during the cooler times of the day. If possible, prepare food at night or early morning. This means you will only need to use minimal energy when heating the food later or even eating it cold.
Living room and bedroom
There are certain factors we need to consider when deciding on the optimum temperature for living room air conditioning. They are the following:
- If sunlight hits the room directly, it will be more difficult to cool. The air conditioning temperature should be lower and use more power. Therefore, put it in a range between 74-76ºF (23-24ºC).
- If sunlight is not direct, the ideal temperature in the room will be more moderate, between 78-80ºF (25-26ºC).
- The ideal air conditioning temperature for sleeping in summer should be lower than the general use temperature. This means a range of 68-70ºF (20-21ºC) when sleeping.
If you are going to use the air conditioner while you sleep, it is important that you follow these guidelines:
- Avoid directing the air flow directly towards the rest area. Otherwise, it could cause thermal shock and cause discomfort such as muscle aches or a sore throat.
- Most air conditioners have a night mode designed primarily for use while you sleep. This mode typically adjusts the temperature and fan speed automatically to provide a more comfortable and quiet environment, while minimizing energy consumption.
For those of us unable to have access to air conditioning at any time of year, learn about how to stay cool in summer without air conditioning.
What happens if I set the air conditioning too low?
If you put the air conditioning at too low a temperature for many hours or all night while you sleep, it can affect your health. It can lead to muscle pain and/or a sore throat. In addition, energy consumption will be very high, which will increase the price of the electricity bill.
It is important that you set it to this temperature only when the necessary circumstances are met. Once the room cools down, you can raise the device a few degrees. Also, it is best to not use the air conditioning at all when it is sufficiently cool outside. Where possible, restrict use to fans or even keeping the window open to allow for cool night air to enter.
Learn how to clean a fan without taking it apart in our related article.
What happens if I set the air conditioning too high?
As we have stated, the ideal air conditioning temperature in summer is between 78-80ºF (25-26ºC). If you set the air conditioner to higher than this range, you will be using it responsibly both for health and energy consumption.
Keep in mind that for every degree you raise the air conditioning thermostat, you will save between 5% and 7% in consumption. The ideal balance between cooling a room in the home and energy saving is at a temperature of approximately 80ºF (26ºC).
Now that you know what the ideal air conditioning temperature is in summer, discover the best options for the different types of air conditioning systems.
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