What Temperature Do Experts Recomend for Your A/C During an Indiana Heat Wave?

Here in Southern Indiana, we are in the midst of a full-blown heat wave, and you might be tempted to turn your A/C down low, hoping to find some relief. Experts say you need to fight that urge and keep your thermostat in their recommended sweet spot.

What Temperature Should You Set Your Thermostat in Summer?

The “experts” at the U.S. Department of Energy recommend setting your air conditioner to 78 degrees when you're home during the day. That may sound a little warm at first (that’s a major understatement), but they say that keeps a balance between comfort and efficiency.

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If you didn’t like that suggestion, you’re REALLY not gonna like this one. When you're away from home, experts suggest bumping the thermostat up to 85 degrees (you might as well just turn the doggone thing off). And at night, they say you can go crazy and set your thermostat to around 82 degrees.

Why Experts Recommend These Surprising Temperatures

Listen to why they say 78 is the perfect temperature and tell me it’s not the most ridiculous thing ever. The “experts” say that the closer your indoor temperature is to the outdoor temperature, the less your air conditioner has to work. Yeah, duh! And the less your AC runs, the lower your monthly bills are, and the longer your system will last.

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Okay, so the suggestion is to keep the temperature inside your house as close to the temperature outside, right? Doesn’t that kind of defeat the whole purpose of having an air conditioner?

How to Stay Cool Without Touching the Thermostat

So, how can you stay cooler without lowering your A/C? The same knuckleheads who tell you to keep your thermostat in the 80’s have a few more suggestions. Use ceiling fans to circulate air, keep blinds or curtains closed during the hottest part of the day, and avoid using the oven in the afternoon. Smart thermostats are another great way to automate temperature adjustments based on your habits.

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I keep my thermostat at 72 degrees for most of the summer, and even that gets a little toasty sometimes. I don’t care how strongly it’s suggested, or how much money I could potentially save, I just don’t think I have it in me to kick the AC up into the 80’s. What about you?