The Magic Number
The Department of Energy recommends 78°F when you are home during summer. But on the Gulf Coast, comfort is not just about temperature — it is about humidity. A properly maintained A/C system should keep indoor humidity between 40-50%.
Smart Settings That Save Money
When you are home: Set it to 76-78°F. Every degree below 78 increases your energy bill by about 3-5%.
When you are away: Raise it to 85°F or turn it off. A programmable or smart thermostat handles this automatically.
When you are sleeping: 74-76°F. Your body naturally cools at night, so you can be comfortable at a slightly higher temp than you might think.
Never set it below 70°F. Besides wasting energy, extreme temperature differentials between indoor and outdoor air put massive stress on your compressor and can cause the evaporator coil to freeze.
The Fan Setting Matters
Set your fan to AUTO, not ON. When set to ON, the fan runs continuously — even between cooling cycles. This blows the moisture your A/C just removed right back into your home, making it feel clammy even at low temperatures.
AUTO mode lets the fan stop between cycles, allowing condensed moisture to drain properly.
Consider a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats like the Ecobee or Google Nest learn your schedule, adjust automatically, and let you control your system from your phone. We install smart thermostats starting at $99 plus the cost of the thermostat. Most homeowners recoup the cost in energy savings within the first year.
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