Set your Air Conditioning Thermostat Correctly!

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What's that thermostat set at? 

How often have you come home and found your thermostat set ridiculously low or unreasonably high? And, have you given thought to how that translates to your electric bill? Did you know that setting the thermostat down very low on a very hot summer day won't necessarily make the air conditioner work any faster? 

In an attempt to cool off our stuffy, hot home when we've returned from a long laborious day, we immediately turn the thermostat down, often much lower than necessary. Here's a few thoughts for you:

• Each degree represents an 8% increase or decrease annually on your utility bill - be energy wise!
• Set your thermostat at a comfortable temperature and leave it there while you're home.  Many homeowners find 72 degrees to be a comfortable setting. (remember...adjusting your thermostat by 1 degree consistently equals an 8% increase which translates to money...have we got your attention?)
• Don't lower your thermostat unusually low anticipating cooler surroundings. Setting your thermostat below 68 degrees can cause your cooling coil to freeze and your system to ice up. One may think that lowering the setting to 62 will cool the house off sooner...it won't!
•  Ceiling fans will circulate air which can sometimes allow for higher settings even during air conditioning season
• Be certain you've changed the batteries if you have a digital thermostat
• You're better off maintaining a constant temperature. The more times your air conditioning system kicks on and off, the more wear and tear on the equipment
• Consider a digital setback (clock) thermostat to do the heavy lifting for you. Set the thermostat to go up to 78 degrees during the times your home is unoccupied, and drop down to 72-70 degrees or whatever your comfort level is, an hour prior to your return home

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