The best temperature to set your air conditioner to keep you cool without soaring power bills
By Rachael Gavin|
A?ir conditioners are a major relief when scorching temperatures leave the home feeling like a sauna.
But we've all experienced the frustration of the appliance making the room so cold we're shivering and wondering whether to turn it off or put a jumper on.
It turns out there is an ideal temperature to set your air conditioner at not just for comfort but to stop your power bills from soaring.
?Colin Jones, category expert at Appliances Online, explained that air con temperature makes a big difference to energy costs.
"?Setting the correct temperature is one way of saving energy, as every one degree of extra cooling or heating could increase your electricity usage by around 5 per cent to 10 per cent," he said.
"So, for example, in summer, not having the air conditioner set at the lowest temperature, making this feel like you have walked directly into a freezer จC an ideal temperature would be around 24 to 26 degrees, depending on where you are located.
"This is the same in winter months, where some people set the temperature, making it feel like an oven. An ideal temperature would be around 18 to 21 degrees, but again will vary depending on where you reside, to what temperature is right for you."
READ MORE: The cheapest way to cool the house down in summer
READ MORE: 11 tricks for staying cool in summer without air conditioning
READ MORE: Six tips for keeping outside dogs cool on hot days?
This is backed ?up by Air Conditioner Repair Service, which explained that the temperature you set the air conditioner at is also relative to what it is outside.
"?The answer is a little different depending on whether your system is heating up the air or cooling it down because the emphasis is on getting your air conditioner to only work as hard as it needs to," the company explained in its guide to air conditioner temperature.
"Remember, it's not a fireplace or a freezer จC it's an air conditioner. Setting your air conditioner to its extreme is therefore something you should only do if the temperature outside is quite similar to that setting."
Air Conditioner Repair Service added that the 24 to 26 degrees recommendation has been set ?because it's thought to be a comfortable temperature for most people that's not too hot or cold.
Now that you're enjoying a comfortable temperature from your air conditioner, there are other things you can do to make it work more efficiently.
These tips not only help to cool the entire room, they also mean your appliance doesn't have to work harder than necessary, which keeps the running cost as low as possible.
Keeping curtains and blinds closed helps keep the cool air from escaping, making the room feel colder for longer. This also helps keep the summer heat out of the room so you want need to cool it down as much.
The same tip works in winter to keep the cold out and warmth inside the room, so investing in window coverings is worth it as you'll use them year round.
Cooling just the area being used is another important tip.
"?Close off areas that are not being used, as there is no use heating or cooling rooms that are not being used," Jones said.
For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.
And just because you have an air conditioner doesn't mean you can't benefit from having a fan, regardless of whether it's a ceiling fan or portable one.
"?In the summer months you may opt to use a fan to assist in moving cool air around the room, most fans today use little power with huge added benefits," Jones explained.
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.
