What Temperature Should I Set my Air Conditioner in Summer? (Utah)
It’s heating up here in Utah! As spring gets into full swing, many of us are already finding our thoughts turning to summer. For some of us, this is exciting! Summer fanatics are looking forward to swimming, barbecues, and time off with the kids. But, on the other hand, the blazing Utah temperatures can also make summer a hard time of year for people. If you find yourself wondering ‘What temperature should I set my air conditioner to in summer for the best result?’ then we’ve got you covered.
Set your air conditioner to 78° in the summertime. This is the Department of Energy’s recommended setting because it’s the perfect balance to keep your house cool without straining your HVAC system or racking up huge energy bills.
Summer climate in Utah
Utah is famous for its huge range of temperatures throughout the year. We swing dramatically from freezing winters to summers where we can regularly expect days over 100°!
While springtime and fall are often marked by rains and storms which cool the temperatures, the summer months are a steady build of heat, with the average outdoor temperature clocking in at 85°. As a landlocked state, there are no cool ocean breezes or cold fronts to interrupt the rising temperatures - we get only occasional thunderstorms which bring a measure of relief.
However - and luckily! - the same thing means that our arid climate here in Utah has very low humidity. In highly humid climates, the moisture in the air stops heat from escaping, leading to warm and sticky nights even after the sun goes down. Here in Utah, however, the dry climate leads to rapid changes in temperature as the evening falls. Summer nights can actually be a bit chilly.
You have to take all of this into account when you’re asking yourself ‘what temperature should I set my air conditioner in summer?’
Why 78° degrees?
The closer the interior temperature of your home is to the external temperature, the less work your air conditioner has to do to keep the temperature steady. That’s why, in wintertime, we suggest that you set your thermostat to 72°.
In the summertime, you want your home to feel cool and comfortable, but, for the sake of your HVAC system, the environment, and your wallet, it’s best to have the temperature as high as you can bear. 78° tends to be the sweet spot for that - and it’s a healthy temperature for kids, pets, and possessions, too.
What temperature should I set my air conditioner in summer during the day?
While 78° is the rule of thumb for what you should set your air conditioner temperature to during the summer, best practice to cool your home and keep comfortable may end up with you changing the temperature slightly throughout a 24 hour period.
When I am at home
The answer to the question ‘what temperature should I set my air conditioner in summer when I’m at home?’ is to set your air conditioner to 78°. If this feels too warm, there are a few things you can do to help you feel more comfortable.
How to get used to keeping the air conditioner at 78°:
Keep fans running. While fans don’t actually cool the temperature in your home, by circulating the air around your body, a current from a fan will cool your body temperature and make you much more comfortable.
Open windows in the early morning before the air begins to heat up to let air currently blow through the house and lower the temperature.
During the hot parts of the day, keep windows shut and curtains drawn.
Raise the temperature on your thermostat by a single degree every few days to let you gradually get used to the slightly higher temperature.
When I am not at home
When you aren’t at home, there’s no need to keep the air conditioner on so high. If you’re going away for the day or just for a few hours, leaving it at 78° or pushing it up to 80° will help you save energy. If you’re going to be away for longer, you may want to consider turning your air conditioner off altogether - though not in July, when the 100° temperatures could actually damage things inside your home.
Having an automatic timer on your air conditioner will help you immensely in saving energy and controlling your home’s temperature over the summer. You can set it to begin cooling the house just before you get home.
What temperature should I set my air conditioner in summer during the night?
Utah summer nights are cooler than summer days, so the answer to the question ‘what temperature should I set my air conditioner in summer during the night?’ is going to be 78°. There is no need for your air conditioner to work harder at night - in fact, you may even want to open a window for a little bit at night to help your house cool down more quickly.
Air conditioner maintenance during the summer months
If you’re asking ‘what temperature should I set my air conditioner to in summer?’, you should also be thinking about what your air conditioner needs to stay working steadily throughout the summer. Anyone who has lived through a Utah summer knows that the last thing you want is for your air conditioner to break down in the middle of July!
There are a few things you can do to make sure your HVAC system is fit for summer:
Get your HVAC system checked - we’re happy to help you with that! Contact us to set up a free assessment.
Clean your air ducts to make sure the air conditioner fan can circulate air properly.
Replace your air filter so that the air conditioner doesn’t have to work hard to move air around your home.
Final thoughts on ‘what temperature should I set my air conditioner in summer?’
Now you know what to set your air conditioner to during the summer in Utah! Keeping it at 78° will help you prolong your air conditioner's lifespan, save energy, and keep your house comfortable.