Why You Shouldn't Set Your Thermostat Below 70 | Metro (2024)

FAQs

Why You Shouldn't Set Your Thermostat Below 70 | Metro? ›

This is a comfortable temperature for most, though you may find that it can feel too cold at times. Any air conditioner set lower than this is at risk of having its coil freeze. Once the coil freezes, your AC won't be able to work properly, and the system will need repairs.

Do not set your thermostat below 70 degrees as it will not cool any faster and could freeze up the system causing more problems. Understand that there is generally a 20 degree difference between indoor air and outside temperatures.

Any lower temperature will result in the system freezing up. In addition to a frosty refrigerant, the piping and coils could also become covered with ice. A frozen air conditioner may subsequently result in higher repair bills and even higher electricity bills.

What's the 20-Degree Rule? In short, the 20-degree rule of air conditioning states that you should always keep your AC unit at no more than 20 degrees lower than the outside temperature. It means that, if the outdoor conditions are at 95 degrees, you should set your thermostat at no less than 75 degrees.

The winter thermostat setting should at minimum be between 50-55 degrees to keep your appliances and pipes from freezing. The worst way to end a vacation or wake up one morning is to a frozen dishwasher or a flooded basem*nt.

The lowest outside temperature at which to run your AC is typically around 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit. At temperatures below this range, your air conditioner might not operate efficiently, causing increased energy consumption and potential strain on the system.

If you want to feel good, as in comfortable, many people will want to lower their thermostat to the low 70s in summer. But if you're talking about saving money on energy and limiting your environmental impact, 70 degrees Fahrenheit is a very bad temperature for your AC to reach.

For many of us, 70 degrees is the ideal indoor temperature, but when it is close to 100 degrees outside, your AC unit will be working quite hard to meet these expectations. Consider setting your thermostat at 75 degrees to 80 degrees in your home if the outside temperature is approaching triple digits.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the recommended thermostat setting for nighttime is between 60°F and 67°F. 3 Setting your AC within this range can help maintain a comfortable sleeping environment.

18 degrees is the lowest temperature that most air conditioners offer. And it might not seem all that low in the scheme of things, especially if ambient temperatures are relatively low as well. But the truth is, every degree you lower your air conditioner's temperature equates to a large increase in power consumption.

Is 72 too low for AC? ›

When setting your thermostat, most homeowners find 72 is a good temperature for air conditioning. However, you may need to adjust that setting based on weather conditions. The bigger the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures, the higher your energy bill will be.

You can also reduce your energy costs significantly by raising the temperature while you are at work, away from home, or asleep. For the greatest savings, consider setting your thermostat to: About 78 degrees while you are at home. About 82 degrees while you are sleeping.

The ideal 'Thermostat Setting'

ASHRAE suggests an optimal comfort temperature between 23.5°C (74.3°F) and 25.5°C (78°F) during summers. Setting the thermostat to 24°C (75.2°F) balances comfort and energy efficiency. Using ceiling fans in conjunction with ACs further enhances comfort while conserving energy.

70°F is an ideal temperature setting, regardless of how hot it gets outside. This is a comfortable temperature for most, though you may find that it can feel too cold at times. Any air conditioner set lower than this is at risk of having its coil freeze.

Be careful not to decrease your home's temperature to less than 55 degrees in winter or allow your home to warm to more than 80 degrees in summer, as it may leave your home susceptible to damage. An indoor temperature of less than 55 degrees may lead to freezing pipes, while anything more than 80 may damage drywall.

Most people can agree that a healthy range will go from 20 – 24 degrees Celsius (68 – 76 degrees Fahrenheit). Depending on a number of other factors, you may prefer one temperature over another. For example, many people like to set their thermostat to something a little warmer during the winter.

To maintain a comfortable indoor environment during the summer, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air Conditioning Engineers recommends a range of 73 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit. On scorching hot days, you may want to adjust your thermostat toward the higher end of that range.

In most cases, especially in residential applications, you should not run your air conditioner when outdoor temperatures are below 60 degrees. The air conditioner does function, but you are going to burn out the compressor fairly quickly.

The cost difference between 68 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit of AC is about 2% to 6%. This is because raising the thermostat by one degree can generally save approximately 1% to 3% on cooling costs.