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If you’re like most homeowners, controlling your home’s cooling costs is important to you. For that reason, you likely make a practice of turning up your thermostat whenever you leave your home. However, when a heat wave hits, that may not always be the right cost-saving strategy. Here’s everything you need to know to decide if it’s a good idea to leave your AC on all day during a heat wave.
How AC Cycles in Extreme Heat
Under normal circumstances, your home’s AC should cycle on and off about three times an hour. That assumes that you’ve maintained it well. That’s enough to prevent big indoor temperature swings without wasting energy. However, during heat waves, your AC’s cycle times can change dramatically. In extreme heat, it’s common for a central air conditioner to run continuously. It does so to offset excess heat gain from sunlight streaming through windows and to keep humidity in check.
When your AC runs nonstop, its total energy use will obviously rise. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s wise to turn it off while you’re away. When you do that, your AC will have to work harder to bring the indoor temperature under control when you return. That can lead to even higher total energy consumption than if you’d left it running.
Why It’s Ideal to Use a Setback Temperature
The best way to save money on your cooling costs is to use a setback temperature. That’s a higher thermostat setpoint that goes into effect while you’re away from home. In most homes, a setback temperature of 83°F is appropriate during a heat wave. This will reduce your air conditioner’s runtime while you’re out without letting indoor heat and humidity get out of control.
If yours is a two-story home, a setback temperature is an even better idea. Since heat rises, turning your AC off while you’re out will lead to sweltering conditions in upstairs rooms. It can get so hot that your AC may fail to bring the temperature under control at all. You may end up switching your AC off again the following day until the second-floor rooms cool down.
Thermostat Setting Tips During Heat Waves
There are some other thermostat settings to check for maximum energy savings during a heat wave. For starters, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends keeping your thermostat set to 75-78°F while you’re at home. That’s cool enough to remain fairly comfortable without putting undue strain on your AC or bottom line. If that’s too warm for you to sleep comfortably, consider lowering the setting to 72-75°F overnight. Doing that has the added benefit of letting your AC work without fighting the daytime sun. It can reduce the load on your AC the following day by delaying indoor temperature increases.
It’s also a good idea to keep your thermostat’s fan setting on Auto. Although it’s tempting to switch the fan to On to keep air moving around, doing so is counterproductive. It just recirculates warmer air through your home, forcing your AC to run more often.
You can also upgrade to a smart thermostat to help you keep cooling costs low amidst a heat wave. On average, homes with ENERGY STAR-certified smart thermostats save 8% on cooling costs. More advanced models offer even more potential savings. Nest says its smart thermostats save homeowners between 12% and 15% on their cooling costs. Ecobee says its users save an average of 26%. If you choose a model with remote temperature-sensing capabilities, you can increase your savings even more. You can use sensors to prioritize conditions in the parts of your home that you’re using at any given time.
Your Local Cooling Efficiency Experts
If you’re looking for help keeping your home cool for less during a heat wave, trust Arctic Air Conditioning & Heating to provide it. We offer AC repair if your system malfunctions and can’t keep up with the heat. And we provide regular AC maintenance to preserve system efficiency and prevent unexpected failures. We can upgrade your AC to a newer, more efficient model for even more savings.
Contact our team at Arctic Air Conditioning & Heating to discuss your home’s energy-efficient cooling needs today.
