What Temperature Should I Set My AC to at Night?

Updated: Aug 31, 2023

When the summer heat settles in and lingers, it can be hard to escape it. Fortunately, many people have air conditioners. Finding the balance between a comfortable and an energy-efficient thermostat setting can be difficult for some. You want to keep your home cool, but you also want to conserve energy and not have to pay a sky-high utility bill. A common question relates to what temperature you should set your AC to at night.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

There isn’t one set temperature that can suit everyone. Some people like things very cold at night so they can get cozy under the covers, whereas others just want to make their bedrooms a little more comfortable without covering up too much.

The commonly recommended AC setting for summer is 78 degrees. However, some people would have a hard time sleeping at that temperature. They sleep sounder in a cooler bedroom. If you have trouble sleeping at higher temperatures, try setting your temperature to 72 degrees or even a bit lower.

At GVEC, we recommend a summer thermostat setting of 78 degrees or as high as you can comfortably stand. Again, it all depends on your comfort level. You may want to keep in mind, however, that for every degree you raise your setting in the summer (or lower it in the winter), you could save up to $4 per month in heating and cooling costs.

How to Reduce Costs

The reality is the lower you set your thermostat to cool your home, the more energy you’ll use. That being said, there are some steps you can take to help reduce your electricity bills.

First, you can install a Wi-Fi enabled programmable thermostat. This way, your thermostat can more consistantly raise the temperature a few degrees during the day and lower it at night. Another useful step is to set up a seasonal maintenance tune-up for your system to ensure everything is working efficiently.

Be sure doors and windows are shut tight during the day, close curtains when it’s sunny, and consider opening your windows on cool nights instead of running your air conditioner.

Call GVEC for Assistance

If you live in or around Seguin, TX, count on GVEC for local, expert AC/heating maintenance, sales and installation, and repair. We’ve been a trusted name in heating and cooling services since 1968 and pride ourselves on excellent service. Contact us at 877-561-6445, or fill out a contact form to set up an appointment today.