Summer in Texas has arrived and has brought its blazing heat once again. If you live in San Antonio, you’re no stranger to the cruelty of three-digit temperatures. There’s nothing like getting out of town and taking a break from the heat. But before you sprint to somewhere sunny and 70 outside, let’s talk about your thermostat settings.
Champion Home Services San Antonio experts want to help you understand the best settings to leave your AC on during your vacation or time away from home. These tips and tricks will help you land in the sweet spot of shaving money off your energy bill and not returning home to what feels like a freezer or sauna.
Here’s What Not To Do
Many people have a checklist of things to turn off and unplug before they leave for some time. Don’t make your air conditioner one of these things. A common belief is that turning off your AC will help shave money off your energy bill, but it could cost you more in the long run.
Your AC Does More Than You Think
Your cooling system does more than just cool and heats your home. It helps regulate humidity levels as well. To avoid damage caused by high humidity, your home’s humidity level should stay below 50%. Your AC must be running for that to happen. Don’t worry if you’ve shut down your air conditioner before, but let’s opt for a different option before your next trip.
The Ideal Temperature
The sweet spot for the air inside your home to thrive and for maximum energy efficiency is around 78-80 degrees. Most of the new, energy-efficient AC systems on the market are designed to keep your house about 20 degrees cooler than outside. So these settings a perfect for combating three-digit temperatures.
The 5-Degree Trick
For those who are not looking to be gone for long periods, upping your temperature to around 75 will keep your house comfortable. You can typically follow the 5-degree rule. This rule states that, depending on the season, a comfortable temperature of an empty home can sit 5 degrees above or below what you would have it on while in the house.
Out With The Old and In With The New
Let’s talk about your new and more energy-efficient thermostat options. The Nest Learning Thermostat learns your behavior to create your home’s ideal heating and cooling schedule. Over the first few days after its installation, this device will remember your favorite temperatures and when you set them. Once it learns your air conditioning preferences, it will put them automatically.
Like the Nest thermostat, many new thermostats now have the capability to connect to your phone. This allows the device to track if you have left your home so it can set itself to the most energy-saving settings.
Find What’s Right For You
An updated thermostat could be just what you need to give you peace of mind while you’re away from home. Champion Home Services San Antonio offers Nest installation and many other air conditioning services that could be an excellent fit for you and your home.
As the heat turns up outside, you may have more questions about how to care for your AC in this kind of heat. Let our San Antonio air conditioning company help keep you cool this summer. Contact us for more information regarding your specific thermostat.
