The Tulsa southern heat is immobilizing, and the only way many make it through the day is to crank up the cool air. In the middle of Tulsa’s sweltering summers, the need for comfort surpasses the fear of the next electric bill. However, what happens when that bill does eventually come and is higher than expected?
Tulsa’s top-rated AC repair experts from Quality Heating, Cooling, & Plumbing face the same concerns every summer day. From one neighbor to another, we’ll let you in on the ideal AC temperature in summer and what our locally-owned business team does to keep cool in Tulsa, OK.
What Is the Magic Number for Your AC?
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the magic number for your AC setting is 78 degrees. However, this number changes according to the time of the day and your accessibility to the unit.
During the night, a 95-degree Tulsa day may dip to a soothing 73 degrees, but if your home holds the heat of the day or the humidity is still high, you may want to leave on your AC. Fortunately, raising your setting to just a few degrees below the outdoor temp saves you 10% annually on your electric costs, especially if you’re increasing it around 10 degrees at night.
When everyone’s out during the day, raise the thermostat to around 80 degrees so it’s lower than the outdoor temperature for a refreshing return home. If you have pets or plants, you’ll want to keep them safe, so do your research for the ideal setting. For instance, most dogs and cats are comfortable at 85 degrees, but some with heavier coats and plants with low heat tolerance may do better at 75 degrees.
We understand these numbers may sound unbearable to some, but they’re simply a jumping-off point. Toggle the thermostat a few degrees up or down without making significant changes to find a compromise that’s your ideal AC temperature in summer. To help you optimize your chosen number, follow our tips below for lower humidity and happier-looking bills.
Circulation From Your Ceiling Fan
A ceiling fan circulates cooler evening air from opened doors or windows, allowing the air to spread evenly into all rooms. The ceiling fans also bring down the stagnant warm air that settles near the ceiling. Meanwhile, new cooler air from outdoor openings pushes humidity out of the house.
You may also pair your fans with a cooling unit set at a higher temperature. Fans create a cooling downcast of air that makes the AC temperature feel cooler while pulling less electricity. However, since a ceiling fan doesn’t produce cool air on its own like an air conditioner, turn your ceiling fan off when you’re not in the room to save even more on utilities.
Prepare with Programmable Thermostats
Changing your AC or central air thermostat multiple times a day is sometimes as overwhelming as the heat. Forgetting to turn up the thermostat before bed even once leaves your cooling power on high for six to eight hours. That might feel great, but your utility bill will show the difference. Prevent this with a programmable thermostat.
Programmable thermostats run on different schedules. Simply choose the setting you prefer and set your desired indoor temperatures for the week, so you only have to touch your thermostat when making temporary alterations. Some setting schedules to choose from include:
- One-week programming: Provide temperature settings you want throughout the day that’ll repeat each day of the week.
- 5-2 programming: Supply a set of temperatures that’ll repeat during the work week and then shift to a different set of temperatures on the weekends.
- 5-1-1 programming: Provide a set of temperatures for the work week, separate set for Saturday, and a third temperature set for Sunday if your cooling needs each weekend day are different.
- 7-day programming: Create seven different temperature settings, one for each day of the week.
Programmable thermostats are great because they allow you to preset your temperatures. You’ll wake up or come home to a chillier home, although it was warmer throughout the night or when you were away. This contributes to the ideal AC temperature in summer. However, a smart thermostat may better suit the comfort levels of those with a more sporadic or unpredictable schedule.
Secure Your Indoor Temperature at All Times with Smart Thermostats
Although you may also preset smart thermostats, they slightly differ from programmable thermostats since they’re programmable from anywhere. Once you connect your thermostat to a smartphone, laptop, or tablet, change your settings on the go.
Whether you’re in the car coming home unexpectedly early from work or at the airport realizing you forgot to turn down your thermostat before your weekend getaway, you can alter your indoor climate with one button.
After a while, your smart thermostat learns your cooling habits and begins to adjust according to the indoor humidity or outdoor climate. Depending on the model you purchase, it’ll also teach you about your unit, giving warnings for air filter changes, extreme energy usage, and unit issues that may arise.
Since this electronic thermostat doesn’t waste time adjusting to a more cost-effective yet comfortable temperature, you’ll quickly reap savings on your ideal AC temperature in summer. For each degree your thermostat sets closer to the outdoor temperature, you save 3% on utilities.
Keep Quality In Mind
Running your unit at a reasonable temperature also protects it from working harder and overheating. Constant overheating leads to the breakdown of several components, including the blower motor in the air handlers that move air into your abode. Learn about AC air handlers and other unit parts and how to maintain them with annual checkups and occasional repairs.
At Quality Heating, Cooling, & Plumbing, our neighborhood business in Glenpool and Tulsa, OK, we have certified technicians with almost ten years of experience under their toolbelts. We’ll help you prepare for the ideal AC temperature in summer when you call 918-212-0122 for a free consultation today!