Summer heatwaves are no joke. Blistering days pushing past 90°F leave both your home and your sanity on the verge of meltdown. But dialing in the right temperature on your thermostat can turn your home into a refreshing oasis without sending your energy bill through the roof.

With the right balance, your air conditioning runs efficiently, your humidity levels stay comfy, and you get that blissful “just-off-the-beach” feel indoors, even when it’s sweltering outside.

Combining smart tweaks with simple lifestyle habits like using a ceiling fan and running a dehumidifier lets you stay cool and save more all summer long. Henley’s Plumbing & Air is here to give you the scoop and help your AC system shine.

What’s the Best Summer Temperature for AC?

For most families, setting the thermostat at around 75°F when people are home provides a cool, relaxing atmosphere without overworking the compressor. At this level, you strike a good balance between comfort and energy savings.

If you want to lower your energy bills even further, raising the setting to 78-80°F when you’re home makes sense. Sure, it’s a touch warmer, but here’s the secret: pairing that with a ceiling fan keeps you cooler than you’d expect because of the breeze. Every degree above basic recommendations can trim your electricity bill by 2–3%, and cumulatively, that adds up, especially during heat waves.

Do Ceiling Fans Really Make You Feel Cooler?

Absolutely, and that’s fantastic news for your budget! A ceiling fan doesn’t actually lower the room’s temperature, but the breeze it creates makes your skin feel up to 4°F cooler. So even when the thermostat reads 78–80°F, you feel like it’s closer to 74-76°F.

And here’s another perk: in the winter, reverse the fan to push warm air down from the ceiling. It circulates existing heat, so your furnace doesn’t have to work as hard to keep the house cozy. Just remember to switch it off when the room’s empty. Fans cool people, not air!

Adjusting Your Thermostat: Home vs. Away vs. Sleep

Summer isn’t a constant. Your days change patterns, and so should your smart thermostat settings. Let’s break it down into three zones:

Home: When you’re in the house cooking, relaxing, or working, comfort key. Aim for 75–78°F to strike a friendly balance between chill and cost. Pair this with a ceiling fan or two to circulate the cool breeze. If you’ve got a smart thermostat, like a Google Nest or ecobee, set this as your primary temperature. These devices learn your routine and adjust gently over time.

Away: When you step out for errands, work, or travel, dial the temp up to 82–85°F. Raising the temperature while you’re away helps prevent your home from turning into a sauna, without wasting energy cooling an empty house. It’s more efficient to maintain a moderate indoor temperature than to let the house bake and force your air conditioning system to recover from a heat buildup. Use your smart thermostat or its mobile app to kick it back down before you come home.

Sleep: Your body naturally cools down while you snooze, and so should your house. Set the thermostat to around 74–76°F, paired with lighter bedding and possibly a ceiling fan. The lower temperature helps you sleep peacefully and keeps indoor air quality crisp.

Energy Savings Strategies

Ready to treat your home and wallet to a boost? Here’s a lineup of smart energy-saving strategies for your air conditioning system:

• Use a Smart Thermostat (Nest, Ecobee, etc.): These gadgets learn patterns to automate temperature settings and sync with your smartphone or even an outdoor temperature forecast based on your zip code.
• Seal Air Leaks and Add Weatherstripping: Gaps around windows, doors, or through ductwork let cool air escape and hot air sneak in. A little caulk, weatherstripping, and attention to air-tight ventilation make your AC work a lot smarter.
• Install Window Film or Shades: Blocking direct sunlight from hitting your ceiling and floors can lower cooling demand up to 15%. Tinted window film or light-reflective shades do wonders.
• Upgrade to ENERGY STAR Appliances: New air conditioners and heat pumps certified by ENERGY STAR run cooler and smarter, giving big long-term savings.
• Use a Ceiling Fan in Tandem With AC: Set the temperature a bit higher (78–80°F) and let fans maintain comfort levels to save around 8–10% on cooling costs.
• Use Smart Scheduling and Home Automation: Program your thermostat to adjust automatically based on your daily routine. With smart home automation, you can optimize cooling around your work hours, sleep schedule, or even local weather patterns without lifting a finger.
• Keep AC Equipment and Ducts Clean: A clogged air filter, dusty evaporator coil, or blocked ventilation restricts air flow. Clean filters monthly and get professional AC maintenance annually. Duct cleaning helps too.
• Avoid Heat-Generating Tasks During Peak: Activities like cooking, running the clothes dryer, or using the dishwasher generate indoor heat. Time them for early morning or late evening to reduce cooling strain.
• Harvest Natural Ventilation When Possible: On cooler summer mornings or evenings, open windows to bring in fresh air. If indoor humidity gets high, turn on your dehumidifier.

Why Steady Temperatures Are Better Than Frequent On/Off Cycling

It might seem logical to turn your air conditioning off when you leave the house, then crank it back on when you return. But that tactic actually wastes energy and causes more wear on your HVAC system. Why? Because frequent on/off cycling makes your condensate pump, blower, and refrigerant work overtime to stabilize your indoor temperature again, and that stress reduces long-term efficiency.

Instead, setting a moderate, consistent temperature using a programmable thermostat helps regulate indoor climate, maintain airflow, and reduce spikes in energy consumption. Your system runs smoother, quieter, and lasts longer. Plus, consistent temperatures help maintain proper humidity, reduce the chance of mold or mildew, and improve your home’s indoor air quality.

Bonus: Steady settings also create a more balanced comfort experience. No more shivering in one room and sweating in another because of wild fluctuations.

Stay Cool and Save More — Let Us Help

Managing your thermostat settings might seem small, but it plays a huge role in lowering your utility bills, supporting smarter energy consumption, and keeping you chill all summer long. Combine steady temperatures with smart home automation, solar panel options, better ventilation, and professional AC maintenance, and you’ve built a home ready for the hottest days of the year.

Need help finding the best temperature for your AC during the summer? Want to make the most of your Nest thermostat, Google Nest, or Ecobee smart thermostat? Henley’s Plumbing & Air is ready to help when you contact us today! We proudly serve:

• Corona
• Norco
• Eastvale
• Yorba Linda
• Placentia
• Anaheim
• Riverside
• Rancho Cucamonga
• Ontario
• Upland
• Fontana
• Redlands
• Highland
• Yucaipa