How To Set Your Thermostat in Summer for Max Money Savings

t’s painful looking at summer utility bills.

But you can ease that pain by using these 3 thermostat-setting best practices for summer.

ON and AUTO refer to the fan works in your indoor unit (usually in an attic or closet).

ON means the fan will run constantly, even when the air conditioner isn’t cooling your home.
AUTO means the fan works only when your air conditioner is actually cooling the air.

Running the fan constantly will use way more electricity. And it can actually increase the amount of humidity in your home, making you feel uncomfortable.

So stick with AUTO setting.

Is your house empty during the day (because, for example, you’re at work)? If so, we highly recommend programming your thermostat to increase the temperature while you’re gone.

According to the US Department of Energy, setting your thermostat a few degrees higher while you’re gone for 8 hours or more can shave 5% to 15% off your yearly energy bills.

You can also save money by raising the thermostat while you’re asleep. Although, that might make it more difficult to get a good night’s rest.

According to Energy.gov, a ceiling fan can “allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort.”

Fans cool us off using the ‘wind-chill effect’. Moving air speeds up our natural cooling process by increasing heat loss from our bodies. This makes us feel cooler.

By using ceiling fans, you can stay cool and comfortable while setting your thermostat a little higher. Remember though, turn off the fans when you’re not in the room. Fans cool people, not rooms.

Our hot summers in Florida mean our AC bills are higher than most of the country. However, if yours seems to just keep climbing, you could benefit from a whole-house performance evaluation.

Contact us for more information.