Kids Back in School? Adjust Your Air Conditioning Temperatures
Kids Back in School? Adjust Your Air Conditioning Temperatures
Make Your Programmable Thermostat Work for You
It’s back to school time again. Kids are returning to school and your home is less occupied throughout the day. When everyone is home, you depend on your air conditioning temperatures to keep you comfy and relaxed. However, if your house is now empty during the hottest part of the day, give your air conditioner a break. Know which air conditioning temperatures are comfortable when you are home, and use your thermostat to raise the temperature a few degrees when you are away. If you are still using a manual dial-type thermostat, consider upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat for greater control over your air conditioning temperatures. AC Southeast® has all the information you need when it comes time to upgrade your thermostat, including finding a licensed HVAC technician to install it.Settings for the Upcoming Fall Season
As summer is ending, it’s time to prep for the fall. The first step is adjusting your thermostat settings. The changing weather and the fact fewer people are home means you don’t need to operate your air conditioner as often. If you can handle your air conditioning temperature at 78 degrees when you are home, program your thermostat or change it manually to cycle your unit on about 15 minutes before you or your kids get home. You can use ceiling fans to help cool you off, if 78 degrees feels too high. Fans don’t produce cold air; they circulate the cool air from your air conditioner around the room. You will feel several degrees cooler without raising your thermostat, due to the wind-chill effect from the fans. When you are away from home during the day, turn your thermostat up 10 to 15 degrees. This will allow your air conditioner to rest while everyone is gone, and reduce your energy bill. A unit with “respite” experiences less wear and tear on the inner components. This also lengthens the lifespan of your cooling system. You can attempt to raise your air conditioning temperatures again when you are sleeping depending on your comfort level. Some people like to sleep with cooler temperatures while others don’t mind a little heat. Use fans when you sleep to help combat the warmer temperatures and leave your bedroom door open if necessary.The Power of Preset Air Conditioning Temperatures
The smartest way to achieve ideal air conditioning temperatures 24/7 in your home is by using a programmable or smart thermostat. Programmable thermostats are popular and most allow you to control your air conditioning temperatures when you aren’t home. You can preset temperatures for when you are home, asleep, away or on vacation. Once the temperatures are set, you just sit back and let your programmable thermostat go to work. There are three different models to choose from: 7-day, 5-2 day, and 5-1-1 day. Each type reflects the different schedules able to be programmed into them. Look for a programmable thermostat to control your air conditioning temperatures with the following features:- Wi-Fi capabilities, which allow you to manage your thermostat and HVAC system remotely
- Adaptive recovery, so you can enjoy precise temperatures the minute you walk through the door
- System alert capabilities to notify you if something is wrong with your heating and cooling system or maintenance is required
- Automatic changeover from cooling to heating, when the weather changes outside
- Vacation and hold features, to maximize energy efficiency when you aren’t home
- Memory save options, which ensure your thermostat will remember your programmed settings in the event of a power outage
