What’s the Best Temperature to Set Your Thermostat to in the Summer?
Spoiler alert: If you want to save money, 78°F is the best temperature to set your thermostat to during the summer.
When the heat waves of summer begin to roll in, you want a comfortable space to provide cooling relief. In order to keep your energy bill in check, it may take some trial and error before deciding the best temperature to set your thermostat in the summer. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) says in order to be energy-efficient while cooling your home appropriately, set the air conditioner to 78 degrees.
While the DOE’s recommended indoor temperature may be where efficiency meets effective cooling, the proper thermostat setting isn’t one size fits all. If a 78° home in the summer months is too warm for your family, there are several ways to keep your energy bill in check while still relaxing comfortably with an American Standard air conditioner or heat pump.
Best indoor temp for summer
Start small. If shifting your thermostat to 78° would be a major change, start with a one-to-two-degree increase. For example, if your indoor temperature is typically set to 73°, modify the setting to 74 or 75°. You’ll save up to 3% on your cooling costs for each degree above 72° you increase your indoor temperature.
Reducing your cooling cost is important, but you also want to create a space you can enjoy. If you remain comfortable with a one or two-degree increase, continue to bump up the setting until you notice a difference. Then, implement some of these simple summertime energy-saving tips to naturally cool your home.
Ideal thermostat temperature while away
A programmable or smart thermostat will help you save energy and money each month. Use the device to increase the temperature when you head out for work or school and lower the temperature to your desired setting before you return home. Schedule the setting to increase by 7-10 degrees while you’re out for the day and save as much as 10% on your monthly energy costs. You can use the American Standard Home App to adjust the thermostat from anywhere at any time.
When your family is away for summer vacation, usually three or more days, increase the indoor temperature for optimal energy savings. The DOE says the ideal thermostat setting while you’re away is 85°F. Avoid setting the thermostat any higher than 90°F to protect temperature-sensitive appliances, like your refrigerator. You also need to keep the cooling system going to prevent the humidity from rising to above 60%. Using a smart thermostat will allow you to lower the temperature to 78° before you arrive home.
Here's a sample schedule based on different personas.
| Persona | Sample Summer Schedule |
| Works 8-5 outside the home | 85° 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. 78° 4:45 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. 78° or lower overnight 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. to promote sleep |
| Remote worker/stay-at-home parent/retiree | 78° 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 85° for any extended periods away from home for play dates, sports, appointments, social gatherings, etc. 78° or lower overnight 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. to promote sleep |
| Works night shift 11pm-7am | 78° 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. 85° 10:45 p.m. to 6:45 a.m. |
78° 4:45 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
78° or lower overnight 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. to promote sleep
85° for any extended periods away from home for play dates, sports, appointments, social gatherings, etc.
78° or lower overnight 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. to promote sleep
85° 10:45 p.m. to 6:45 a.m.
Monitor indoor humidity
High levels of indoor humidity can make the space feel hotter than it is. The muggy stickiness created by moisture in the air can be combated by a whole-home dehumidifier. As the summer season often brings an increase in humidity, your dehumidifier will remove excess moisture, complementing the cooling effects of your air conditioner or heat pump.
Ceiling fan direction in summer
The breeze from a ceiling fan won’t replace your home’s air conditioner, but it can decrease the"feels like" temperature in a room up to four degrees. This means if you set the thermostat to 78° but have a ceiling fan going, that room will feel like it's 74°. Most fans have a switch that allows you to change the direction the blades circulate.
Ceiling fan blades should spin counterclockwise during the summer months. This direction allows the fan to push air down and create a cool breeze. The room will feel cooler, and the temperature will be more consistent throughout the day. Plus, you can increase the thermostat setting and save on your monthly energy bill. Just be sure to turn the fan off when you're not in the room to save even more energy.
Summer AC tune-up
Keeping your air conditioner or heat pump in optimal working condition will help increase energy efficiency and extend the life of the system. Just as you would prepare your vehicle for a road trip or changing seasons, you should do the same for your cooling system.
A scheduled summer AC tune-up is the preventative maintenance your unit needs to ensure it is cooling at maximum efficiency. Conditions you may not even notice, like overgrown landscaping around your air conditioner, can affect its performance. An American Standard Customer Care dealer can complete a thorough check-up on your system or support you with replacing an antiquated unit.
Invest in energy-efficient cooling
If your AC unit or heat pump is more than 10 years old or you’re investing in constant repairs to the system, it may be time to consider a new, energy-efficient model. In order to lower your energy usage and monthly spend, select an Energy Star-qualified unit.
An American Standard air conditioner or heat pump with a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER2) rating will be up to 15% more efficient than older, less energy-conscious models. Higher SEER2 systems often operate a multi-speed or variable speed fan, keeping your home at a cooler, more consistent temperature on a lower setting.
A multi-speed or variable-speed air conditioner or heat pump also runs longer, eliminating the constant starts and stops of a single-stage unit. It can operate at low speeds to maintain temperature, requiring much less energy to keep your home consistently comfortable.
Make your home naturally cooler
Aside from increasing your indoor temperature and scheduling routine HVAC maintenance, these simple tips allow you to reduce your energy use and cooling costs starting today:
- Keep blinds, curtains, and shades pulled closed during the day to reduce the sun’s heat. Use blackout shades and curtains for a bigger impact.
- Depending on your regional climate, consider turning off your air conditioner at night and opening windows to naturally cool your home.
- Install new or replace warped weatherstripping around doors and windows.
- Avoid increasing your indoor temperature by only using heat-generating appliances like your stove, oven, or clothes dryer after 8pm. These appliances can increase your indoor temperature by up to 10 degrees.
- Explore the top 6 energy-efficient home improvements to reduce energy costs all year long.
- Explore our Green Guide for even more energy-saving tips.
The experts at American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning can help you cut energy costs throughout the year. Contact one of our American Standard Customer Care dealers today.
