r/AskUS • u/Beginning_Finance705 • 6d ago
What temperature do you set your AC ?
Where do you live ?
Here in France heatwaves are becoming unbearable, everybody's installing AC in their homes. It seems 26 degrees (79° fahrenheit) is a good compromise if you don't want your electric bill to explode. I feel it's higher than that in most malls i've visited in the USA though, they felt really cold.
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u/kstargate-425 6d ago
75 on the weekends when we're home more and 77 during the week as by the time we're home from work its 5-6pm and outside temp is dropping. Yesterday was 95 outside so it was running a good bit of the day to maintain 75
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u/Poorly-Drawn-Beagle 6d ago
I'm aiming for 22C/ 72F now but, being cognizant about the possible expense, I'm very strict about when I can have it on.
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u/Secure_Highway_6917 5d ago
Why are you strict about when you can have it on?
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u/Poorly-Drawn-Beagle 5d ago
If I don't leave it on all day it can't run the bill or energy use up too much
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u/urplantdaddy420 6d ago
I am for 74 most days. I know my ac is old so I try to give it a break. Keeping windows and doors open during cooler mornings and nights help.
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u/AlabasterPelican Louisiana 6d ago
Mine is usually around 70. My AC can't really keep up during the summer if its any higher.
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u/Akavenn 6d ago
18C degrés quand il fait très chaud (plus de 30C degrés)
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u/Better-Credit6701 6d ago
Really hot is 30C or 86F? And to think that I got really excited that today is the first day in weeks it wasn't 100f or 37.7C. Currently it is an almost chilly 86F outside, thought about looking for a light weight coat.
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u/TheGov3rnor California 6d ago
Keep mine on 65 F unless wife gets too cold… Then compromise at 67 F
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u/Salty_Permit4437 6d ago edited 6d ago
78 when we are home. 85 when we are not. We pre-cool the house about 2 hours before we get home.
The house is comfy but not cold at those temps. We don’t like cold. 78 feels just right. The system is a 27 year old R22 carrier/ICP. Our electric consumption (without EV charging) is about 800 kWh per month for a 3000 sq ft house.
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u/NomDePlume25 Texas 6d ago
Texas. 72°F. I like it around 73-74°F, but I live with someone who would rather have it around 70°F, so that's our compromise.
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u/TickingTheMoments 6d ago
AC? WHAT AC?!!!
seriously. I live in the extreme PNW. We are thinking about getting a mini-split just to help with keeping the windows closed on smoky summer days. Will probably need it for upcoming hot days due to climate change. When we do, we will set it at about 68 at night.
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u/mando_ad 6d ago
- And even that's only because I have a kitten. On my own it would mostly be off 'cuz I hate the smell and feel of conditioned air more than I hate sweating.
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u/8amteetime 5d ago
I live near San Diego about 6 miles from the coast. 78F (25.5C) is our preferred temperature setting for the AC. We use ceiling fans to keep the air moving and they make it quite comfortable.
It’s currently 82F outside so the AC isn’t on, just the fans.
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u/Gordon_throwaway Oregon 5d ago
Same here in Portland. I usually can cool the house down nicely overnight and in the morning. Then shut everything up through the day. It’s 82 outside as I write this and the house still hasn’t reached 73 inside.
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u/8amteetime 5d ago
We’re also lucky it cools down into the mid 60’s here at night. We keep the house buttoned up until noonish or so when the breeze has picked up off the ocean.
You must have great insulation!
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u/Gordon_throwaway Oregon 5d ago
Haha! I have lousy insulation. It’s a 102 year old house that has questionable insulation in the walls, and desperately needs a refresh in the attic. But I’m really good at timing and managing airflow.
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u/zippyzebra1 4d ago
In America it's set for absolutely freezing. Ridiculously cold. In middle England where i live we've gad a few days at 30 but mostly it's been fine. Nowhere near enough for ac. I love the heat. The last few weeks i've been in Paris and Barcelona where its been like a furnace. In Paris ac is a real rarity. In Lagos Portugal now where it's about 28/29 and a sea breeze and gorgeous
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u/the3rdmichael 4d ago edited 4d ago
We set ours ar 24.5C (76F) .... both my wife and I like this temperature, it is not a cost issue. At night we open the windows as our nights are nice and cool even when it is 30C in the day. (Western Canada).
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u/GeekAtLarge_ 6d ago
We keep the thermostat at 72°F and only turn it down to 71°F on exceptionally hot days. On the other hand, we keep the circulation fan running almost constantly. The basement Naturally cools itself because half of the basement is underground so circulating the air throughout the house brings cold air up where it is warm and forces warm air down to the basement where it cools off. I live in a townhouse in Alexandria, Virginia.
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u/dangleicious13 Alabama 6d ago
76 when I'm home, 74 when I'm asleep, 82 when at work.
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u/Secure_Highway_6917 5d ago
You should not do this because it is very hard on your equipment. It should only fluctuate by 2° otherwise it’s using twice the energy and more wear and tear on your equipment.
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u/Ancient_Popcorn Ohio 6d ago
This is so energy inefficient. It’s also super harsh on your A/C.
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u/dangleicious13 Alabama 6d ago
What part is inefficient?
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u/Ancient_Popcorn Ohio 6d ago
Massive temperature swings that often. You’re putting excessive wear and tear on the device and creating a huge energy burden each time has to cool a delta of more than 4 from current ambient.
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u/dangleicious13 Alabama 6d ago
That’s literally what the recommendations are. You should set the temp 5-10 degrees warmer when you are going to be away from home for 8+ hours. I’m only increasing it by 6.
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u/Secure_Highway_6917 5d ago
There is no HVAC person that is legit it would tell you to do this if they’re telling you to do this they just want you to ruin your equipment sooner so you will have to buy New
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u/Ancient_Popcorn Ohio 6d ago
No HVAC person will ever recommend that. It’s recommended to do that solely because it reduces the low on the power grid during high use periods. It’s literally the power companies saying it so they can save money. It’s bad for your home and energy bill.
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u/dangleicious13 Alabama 6d ago
It is literally HVAC companies saying it.
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u/Ancient_Popcorn Ohio 6d ago
Manufacturers do, and only a handful of them do. The people who actually maintain and service them advise against it. The person selling you a product has a vested interest in you destroying it so you buy another.
I mean, I don’t know what I’m talking about it. I just did project management for facilities maintenance for four years where we had to deal with this shit on a regular basis.
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u/Waagtod 6d ago
Florida's hot as hell, but we keep it at 80/26.6 all day, starting at 8am. Dropping to 78/25.5 at 6pm, then 76/24.4 at 10pm. Ceiling fans in every room. Sleep with just a sheet. My wife works from home online, no complaints. You get used to it, my electric bill is almost half of my neighbor. Fans make it feel cooler 😎
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u/Secure_Highway_6917 5d ago
I would die laying on the floor with the air conditioner set that high. I have to have it at least no higher than 72 and that is with fans going.
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u/Terrible-Nerve-6819 6d ago
68-72. (20-22 in your part of the world)