When the summer heat arrives, your air conditioner quickly becomes your best friend. But keeping your home cool also means higher energy bills. The good news? Adjusting your thermostat settings strategically can save you hundreds of dollars each season without sacrificing comfort.
Whether you use a traditional programmable thermostat or a smart one, finding the right recommended thermostat settings for summer and winter can make a huge difference in energy efficiency. In this guide, we’ll cover why thermostat settings matter, the best temperature ranges, how smart thermostats help, and practical tips to maximize comfort and savings.
Why Thermostat Settings Matter
The thermostat is like the brain of your HVAC system. It controls when your air conditioner or heater runs, how long cycles last, and how much energy is used. Even a small adjustment like raising your thermostat by 2–3°F in the summer can cut your cooling costs by up to 10% according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Optimizing thermostat settings means you’re not forcing your AC to overwork. Instead, you strike a balance between comfort and efficiency.
Recommended Thermostat Settings for Summer
During hot months, it’s tempting to set the thermostat as low as possible, but doing so only drives up your energy bill. The Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78°F (25-26°C) when you’re home and awake during summer.
Here’s a breakdown:
- When you’re home (daytime): 78°F is the sweet spot for balancing comfort and efficiency.
- When you’re away: Raise the setting by 7-10°F (to around 85°F). This prevents wasted energy when nobody is home.
- When sleeping: 74–76°F is a comfortable range for most people at night.
Pro Tip:
Each degree below 78°F can increase your cooling bill by about 3-5%. So if you love a cooler room, invest in ceiling fans or portable fans to enhance comfort instead of drastically lowering thermostat settings.
Recommended Thermostat Settings for Winter
While this blog focuses on summer savings, it’s equally useful to know how to save in the winter.
- When you’re home (daytime): 68°F is ideal.
- When you’re asleep or away: Lower it by 7-10°F (to around 60-62°F).
This adjustment can save you 10–15% a year on heating costs, making thermostat management a year-round money saver.
How Smart Thermostats Save You Money
Smart thermostats go beyond simple temperature control. They learn your habits, adjust automatically, and connect to your smartphone for remote management.
Features that Help You Save:
- Adaptive Scheduling: Learns your preferences and sets optimal thermostat settings.
- Remote Access: Adjust your AC from anywhere via an app.
- Geofencing: Turns your system off when you leave home and back on before you return.
- Energy Reports: Provides insights into energy usage and suggestions for improvement.
- Integration with Smart Devices: Works with Alexa, Google Home, or Apple HomeKit for voice control.
For homeowners aiming to cut costs, investing in a smart thermostat often pays for itself in less than two years.
Common Mistakes Homeowners Make with Thermostat Settings
Even with the best thermostat, many people make costly mistakes. Here are the top errors to avoid:
- Setting the thermostat too low in summer: This overworks your AC and increases bills.
- Constantly adjusting temperatures: Frequent changes cause unnecessary wear on your system.
- Forgetting to adjust when away: Cooling an empty house wastes energy.
- Ignoring seasonal changes: Summer and winter require different strategies.
- Skipping thermostat upgrades: Old thermostats lack energy-saving features.
Tips to Maximize Comfort While Saving Money
Now that you know the recommended thermostat settings for summer and winter, here’s how to make those settings work even better:
1. Use Ceiling Fans
Fans create a wind-chill effect, making you feel cooler at higher temperatures. You can comfortably set your thermostat 2–4°F higher with fans running.
2. Close Curtains and Blinds
Sunlight streaming through windows can raise indoor temps by several degrees. Block heat gain with curtains, blinds, or reflective films.
3. Seal Air Leaks
Drafty doors and windows force your AC to work harder. Seal gaps with weather stripping or caulking.
4. Maintain Your AC
Change filters every 1-3 months, clean coils, and schedule annual tune-ups to keep your system efficient.
5. Use Programmable or Smart Schedules
Program higher temps when you’re at work or asleep, and lower them when you’re home.
6. Avoid “Quick Cooling” Myths
Setting your thermostat extra low doesn’t cool your house faster it only wastes energy.
Example: A Day in the Life of Efficient Thermostat Settings
Here’s how you could structure thermostat use in summer:
- 6:30 AM – 74°F: While getting ready in the morning.
- 8:00 AM – 85°F: Raise the temp before leaving for work.
- 5:30 PM – 78°F: Lower to comfort level when arriving home.
- 10:30 PM – 75°F: Adjust for sleep comfort.
This balance ensures energy savings during unoccupied hours while maintaining comfort when you’re home.
Should You Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat?
If you still rely on a manual thermostat, you’re missing out on potential savings. Smart thermostats provide:
- Automation (no need to remember adjustments)
- Precision (accurate readings prevent overcooling)
- Convenience (control from your phone or voice assistant)
For many households, the combination of proper thermostat settings and smart technology results in 15-20% lower energy costs annually.
Final Thoughts
Optimizing your thermostat settings is one of the simplest, most effective ways to save money while staying comfortable this summer. By following recommended thermostat settings for summer and winter, using fans, sealing air leaks, and investing in smart technology, you can keep your energy bills under control without sweating through the season.
Smart thermostat users enjoy even greater benefits, from automated adjustments to real-time energy reports. But even if you’re not ready for an upgrade, small daily adjustments can lead to big long-term savings.
So this summer, resist the temptation to crank your AC to the lowest setting. Instead, make smart choices with your thermostat, and enjoy a cooler home and a lighter energy bill.