What Is The Best Home AC Temperature?
We all know the drill – you’re about to leave home on vacation and suddenly remember you need to turn down your home’s AC. But, what temperature is best while you are away from home? This is a question that comes up often for HVAC professionals.
So, what is the best temperature for home AC while away on vacation? When it comes to house AC, the best temperature for your home when away on vacation is 78 degrees Fahrenheit (26 Celsius). This will give you a comfortable indoor temperature (not too hot or cold), without costing you much electricity.
Although there are factors that affect the temperature of house AC while away on vacation that could make this higher or lower – like humidity and outside weather conditions – this temperature is generally recommended to keep house AC running efficiently. House AC isn’t only good for comfort, it can also help save money on electric bills as well!
HVAC companies say 75-78 degrees is ideal for a home AC if you want to cool down quickly and not spend too much money doing so. You’ll still save electricity by not overdoing it, but you’ll also be comfortable. Many local home experts advise that a home AC should never go below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 Celsius).
This is because air conditioners are designed to make homes warmer, not colder. Lower than 60 degrees can cause problems like frozen coils and minimal house cooling. Keep reading to learn more about why leaving your HVAC system on during vacation is so important!
Is It Better to Leave the AC On or Off When Away?
The first thing every homeowner should consider when they leave the house is whether or not they will be home long enough for the AC to make a difference.
It’s also important to understand how much electricity you’re using by leaving your AC on all day, and what that means in terms of cost vs benefit.
House temperature can range anywhere from 60-80 degrees (with 74 degrees being an average across the US). When you turn your AC on at 72 degrees, it usually takes roughly 8 hours to cool down 10 degrees.
So if you are planning to leave your house for 7 hours or more, it may be worth turning up the temperature before you go out. If, however, you’re only going to be gone for 4 hours or less, turning the temperature up several degrees may not be worth it.
The best thing about owning an AC unit is that you are in control of your home’s temperature at all times. But if you’re leaving for work or vacation, do yourself a favor and save some money by turning off the AC before you leave.
If you’ll be gone for a shorter period, leave the AC on because it will save you from an uncomfortable house temperature. But if you’re going to be away for a longer time, it’s probably best to turn the thermostat off and set it at a temperature that is comfortable without air conditioning.
The benefits of leaving your AC on while gone are not great enough to offset the cost of staying cool for 8 hours straight. It seems as though turning off the thermostat saves more money than turning up the temperature before leaving would save.
Risks of Turning Off Your AC for Long Periods of Time
Turning off your AC unit when you leave the house is the smartest choice for saving money. But there are some things to consider before you do so.
If you have an older-style programmable thermostat, it may not remember what temperature you left your home at.
Turning down the temperature on this type of AC will cause it to turn off entirely once it hits 60 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live somewhere cold, leaving this type of AC off can result in higher energy bills.
If that’s the case for you, then try setting your heat to 70 degrees while you’re gone. Using a space heater or two to warm up an area is a great option as well. Also, ensure that windows are closed and blinds are drawn to prevent any cool air from escaping.
Most importantly, however, is to be mindful of how long you are staying away. Make sure that when you’re ready to head home after several days away, you gradually turn the temperature up over an hour before returning.
This will restore any lost heat without putting too much strain on your AC unit or increasing your energy bill excessively.
Make Sure to Properly Clean AC Air Filters
When it comes to air quality, air filters are important for filtering out all of the dust and dirt in the air. When you own a house, knowing how to clean air filters is an important part of keeping your home healthy and efficient.
House air filters have a life span and must be regularly serviced to ensure they are working properly. They come in many different shapes and sizes, but the most important thing to understand is that all of them need to be cleaned from time to time. House air filters clean out dust particles by trapping them inside of the filter.
Maintaining House AC Air Filters
Many different types of air filters can be purchased for your home. Depending on the type of filter you have in your house, there are specific cleaning instructions that should be followed when you need to clean them.
For instance, if you have a reusable filter, then you will need to wash it with water when debris builds up over time. On the other hand, disposable filters typically just need to have their surface brushed off. You can use a soft brush or a vacuum to clean the filter.
House Air Filter Cleaning Tips
Clean house air filters with 3 steps:
- Turn off the power or unplug.
- Use a brush or vacuum to clean debris.
- Reinstall house air filter.
When you clean house air filters, make sure that all power or plugs are turned off before touching any part of the filter. Also, taking caution when cleaning home air filters may prevent damage to the fan and improve its effectiveness in filtering out dust from your home’s indoor air quality.
House air filters should typically be replaced if they appear dirty or damaged as well as annually for peak performance. They can collect allergens as well as other types of dirt and debris as time goes on.
Replacing House AC Air Filters
Reusable filters will need to be replaced once in a while, and this date should be when you schedule your air filter cleaning before each season.
You can find when to replace the air filter by looking at the manufacturer’s instructions on when it needs to be done.
Most air filters should be changed every few months throughout the year for optimum performance.
It is also important not to wait until your reusable house air filters are completely clogged with debris before you clean or replace them.
House air filters that are constantly filtered but never cleaned eventually lose their ability to work well. This could end up giving you problems down the line if it gets too dirty.
After you clean and replace your air filter, it is important to keep track of the date and time you performed this service on each one. Even if you have a reusable air filter, cleaning it too many times makes it less effective at catching dust particles that are in the air.
House air filters should be checked monthly or bi-monthly for optimal performance. While the cost of air filters that need to be replaced may be a hassle, it is worth doing so to improve your home’s indoor air quality and keep yourself and your family members healthy.
House air filters can affect the temperature of your house, so it is important to check on them at least a couple of times a year.
Utilize Your Programmable Thermostat
House thermostats are a great way to save money and energy. They can be programmed to automatically adjust the temperature based on the time of day and activity in the house.
House thermostats reduce reliance on manual adjustments. This reduces the costs associated with hiring people for this task. It also frees up money that can instead go towards other important expenses.
Thermostats can be programmed to control the temperature of the house, providing comfort without wasting energy. For example, programmable thermostats can be set to automatically lower the temperature at night while everyone is sleeping.
This saves money by not needing to maintain such a high temperature when no one is home or awake. In addition, overnight temperatures do not need to be raised in the morning when these people wake up and start their day.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, it is important to find the best temperature for home AC while away on vacation. The recommended setting is to set it at 78 degrees Fahrenheit, as this is the ideal temperature for indoor air conditioners. This temperature keeps it at a comfortable level without wasting too much energy.
I have found it best to set it at this temperature when on vacation because it saves me money, without making it uncomfortable for my dog and house plants. Make sure to do enough research and evaluate your local climate to get a better idea of an optimal resting temperature!
