Best Thermostat Settings for Summer

When the hot summer months hit, it can be difficult to keep your home cool without paying an arm and a leg for utility bills. And to make matters worse, you may have family members fighting over the temperature, or pets and children you need to worry about.

Whether you’re in the camp of always being cold or always being hot, there are perfect thermostat settings for summer. No one wants to be sitting in sweat or having to pile on the layers during a hot summer.

Below, we reveal the ideal temperature for your thermostat in the summer, which keeps everyone comfortable without sending your energy bills through the roof.

Yes, the Best Temperature Setting is 78°

According to experts, the ideal winter thermostat setting is 68°F. In summer, 78°F is the perfect temperature for hot days.

Everyone has different temperature needs, however. You may struggle with getting family members comfortable in 78°F. Start by increasing the thermostat by one or two degrees each day until they’re comfortable at the ideal temperature.

According to Direct Energy, 78°F is the perfect temperature for keeping everyone cool without causing a spike in energy bills.

You can increase your energy savings even more by raising the temperature while you sleep. Most people have a temperature drop while sleeping, allowing them to tolerate higher temperatures. Even if it’s only a few degrees, that can translate to significant savings over time.

Another way to save is by turning the thermostat up while you’re not home. This will give your air conditioner a break and keeps you from paying a lot of money to run the air conditioner for an empty household.

Keep in mind, however, that if you have pets in your home, they can’t handle temperatures above 82-85°F. This is true of dogs as well as small mammals and birds.

How to Regulate Your Own Body Temperature

78°F may be the ideal temperature for saving on energy bills, but it’s not necessarily the perfect temperature for everyone to feel cool and comfortable. Many factors affect how much heat your household retains, including its exposure to direct sunlight, its location, and its insulation quality.

If you find that you’re still too hot, or your family members are complaining about the heat, here are some tips:

• Use your ceiling fans to circulate air and cool the room.
• Avoid using your oven during the day.
• Take a cool shower before bed to reduce your body temperature.

If you’re still too hot, try lowering the thermostat by one degree each day until you find your comfortable temperature. Eventually, everyone can get on the same page and live with slightly higher temperatures on hot days.

Keep Hydrated

Hydration helps our bodies stay cool, not to mention that sweating without replenishing fluids can dehydrate you quickly. As your body adapts to heat and sweats to cool off, you may feel thirsty, but that’s not the only indication you need water. Track your water intake throughout the day to ensure you’re getting the hydration you need.

Dress for Summer

Summer often means sandals, shorts, and tank tops or tee shirts, but having all that skin exposed can make you feel hotter. The ideal clothing for hot temperatures is lightweight and breathable clothing that fits loosely on the body. Your body can ventilate and cool off in natural fibers like cotton and linen.

Babies Need to be Kept Cooler

Babies require lower temperatures than adults. If they’re in an overheated room or bundled up, they can experience sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). If possible, leave a fan in the baby’s room to reduce the risk of SIDS.

Babies should have temperatures no higher than 65°F and no higher than 74°F. Because they can’t regulate their body temperature like adults, they can’t cool off well. Conversely, babies don’t have a fat reserve that keeps them warm when it gets cold.

Avoid wrapping your baby in bedding or head coverings and bonnets. They can overheat, and they have no way of cooling themselves or telling you that they’re hot. The fabrics should be light and breathable in warm weather.

They can’t regulate their body temperature as well as adults, and they don’t have the fat reserves to keep them warm when it gets too cold.

Regulate Home Temperatures with a Smart or Programmable Thermostat

Sticking to the ideal home temperature can translate into great energy savings, but it’s a pain to adjust the temperature whenever you leave and wait for it to cool off when you get home. A smart or programmable thermostat can take on the work for you and ensure your home is always comfortable without compromising on the energy savings.

With a programmable thermostat, you can set different temperatures for the time of day, the hours you leave, and when you return home, so your house is always ready for you. For example, you can set your air conditioner to cool down your home a half hour before you arrive, so you’re comfortable when you first get home.

Smart thermostats also allow you to control the temperature remotely from your smartphone or tablet, and it can track your schedule and adjust accordingly.

Schedule an appointment with Service Champions to optimize your home’s cooling and heating!