Most air conditioning systems are designed to function with outside temperatures of 100 degrees or less. When temperatures outside become higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the air conditioning system can consume more energy and begin to malfunction or fail.
It's due to pressure changes in the refrigerant coil, which change the warm airflow and/or the refrigerant amount in the coil—and you get a freeze-up. The best way to avoid this problem is to routinely schedule air conditioner maintenance.
The majority of air conditioning units are designed to only cool the air about 20 degrees from the outside temperature. If the temperatures outside are approaching triple digits, you should set your thermostat at about 78°. A higher setting helps to: Reduce stress on your AC system.
HVAC manufacturers typically advise users not to run their units for extended periods if the temperature is below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. If you need to test your unit, you should do so after the weather has been risen to 60 degrees Fahrenheit for at least three days.
The simple answer is – yes! In the summer, when the temperature outside heats up, your A/C unit has to work harder to keep the temperatures inside your home cool. Why? Your air conditioning system doesn't actually “cool” the air, but instead it removes heat.
They recommend that when it's 90 degrees outside, you should try setting your air conditioning thermostat at 80 degrees or higher. And when it's 95 to 100 degrees outside (and higher), you should set your thermostat at 85 degrees or higher.
Air Conditioning Systems and Humidity
Humidity affects air conditioning negatively because it cancels out the cooling effect. When the humidity is too high, your home will feel warmer than it actually is. You'll have to keep your air conditioning system running but won't derive nearly as many benefits from using it.
Turning the air UP means increasing the AC, resulting in a colder temperature. My ex Wife used to turn the air to 60 degrees or so, thinking "it will cool off faster".
Set your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter
According to ENERGY STAR, setting your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) when you're home is the ideal balance of comfort and energy efficiency.
Most manufacturers don't recommend using AC when the outdoor temperature falls below 60F. Running the AC under 60 degrees will make the refrigerant behave differently, and the air conditioner will not work as intended.
Air leaks and poor insulation are a common cause for making your house feel hot, even when the AC is working, as they can allow the air your air conditioner has worked so hard to cool to escape, leaving your house hot. Humidity can interfere with your thermostat's ability to track temperatures and also traps heat.
Most of the Time, Aim for A 15 Minute Cycle
Ideally, your AC should run for 15 minutes on nice, warm days. Only on those rare triple-digit temperature days should your air conditioner be running almost all the time.
Check the Temperature
Does it feel hot in your house? Make sure your thermostat is set to Air Conditioning Mode. If it's two or more degrees warmer in your home than your thermostat setting, the air conditioner should be working. If it's not, you may have a problem.
Best House Temperature While Away: 55–80 degrees
In general, it's safe to increase indoor temperature up to 80 degrees in summer and decrease indoor air temperature to 55 degrees in winter, but there are exceptions - for example, if you live with a baby or an elderly or immune-compromised individual.
But as it turns out, the only real pro to keeping your thermostat one temperature is convenience. Sure, when you're away on vacation or gone for the weekend, the consistent temperature is efficient, but when you're at home, there's really no additional benefits.
The lower the temperature is inside of the home, the slower the rate of thermal energy loss. To achieve optimal comfort, it is recommended for homeowners to set their thermostats between 68 to 72 degrees while there are people inside of the home.
According to the Department of Energy1, 78° Fahrenheit is the sweet spot for air conditioners to balance energy savings and comfort when people are at home and need cooling.
Here's Why. Recently, the federal government released new recommendations for energy efficiency. According to these federal guidelines, during the summer you should set your thermostat at 85F during the day when no one is home.
What Temperature Should You Set Your Thermostat When It's 100 Degrees? A good rule of thumb is during the hottest days when the dial reaches 100 degrees it is best to set your AC to somewhere between 75 and 80 degrees.
Any time you're awake and at home during the summer, the ideal thermostat temperature is 78 degrees. This home temperature for energy efficiency lowers your cooling bills by 12 percent compared to keeping it at 74 degrees. If you're afraid 78 degrees is too warm, remember to dress for the season.
If your unit is outdoors, you should be able to hear and see if the fan is on. If you can see or hear the fan moving in your unit and you feel air at the top, this means your blower is working, and you can rule it out as the problem with your unit.