AC Settings for Spring: Everything You Need to Know
Has it felt like a long winter? If you are not a fan of cold weather, that first beautiful spring day feels like a breath of fresh air.
But, don’t be fooled! Jack Frost might not be done with you yet. As spring sets in, its unpredictability might have you frustrated with trying to keep your home comfortable. Before you go messing with your AC settings, read this guide.
We are about to cover things about your thermostat you might not know.
The Set It and Forget It Mentality
You may be tempted to set your thermostat and leave it there all year long, assuming you have both heating and cooling integrated into your HVAC system. This is a mistake for a number of reasons, but the biggest concern here is cost.
Nobody likes spending money when they don’t have to. Setting your thermostat one degree lower can save you as much as 3% on your energy bill.
Set for Time of Day
Temperatures often fluctuate greatly in the Spring. We suggest getting in the habit of changing your AC settings four important times a day:
- When you wake up
- When you go out
- When you come home
- When you go to bed
When you wake up you may want to cool off your home a bit if it feels too hot. Yet, opening a window might very well do the trick. Put off turning on the AC as long as you can by checking the inside temperature against the outside temperature. If it is hotter inside then open some windows.
At night you may feel like you need the AC set to cool down the bedrooms to avoid night sweats. If you are using heavy blankets during the night, this is a good sign you might be overusing the AC. You could set the temp a little higher and still be comfortable.
When you are out and nobody is at home, setting the temperature higher than normal will save on energy. Set it five degrees higher than when you are home – them home will keep to a comfortable temperature when you return.
On somewhat cool days, you may want to turn the AC off altogether while you are out. Open a window, if you can do so safely, of course.
HVAC Maintenance Tips
Besides controlling the AC settings, there are a few other ways to help the efficiency of your HVAC system. Perform a spring checklist on your HVAC systems. If you are experiencing any of the following issues, call your HVAC company.
- Unusually loud AC unit
- The AC doesn’t cool (regardless of the setting)
- You haven’t had HVAC service in awhile
If you don’t need HVAC repair services, you still need to change the filters and check that the fans are clean and free of debris every spring.
Seasonal AC Settings That Make Cents
In spring you shouldn’t need to use your AC as much as in the summer. This means you could change the AC settings often according to the time of day and weather outside. This will save energy/money and keep you from running down your equipment.
In case of an AC unit that seems to be failing, you may find yourself asking “is there an HVAC company near me?” For professional HVAC services in Delaware, contact Enhanced Heating and Cooling today.