With hot, humid Florida summers, it’s tempting to want to blast your air conditioner. However, doing so will cause your energy bills to skyrocket. This makes it crucial to find the right balance: a comfortable home and affordable bills. Here is a look at the best thermostat settings if you live in Bradenton and some tips that can help you save on your bill.
Ideal Thermostat Settings in Florida
Summers in Bradenton, FL, tend to hit the high 80s. Add on the humidity, and summers here can easily feel like they’re in the mid-90s. While the evenings drop to between 70s and 80s, the heat index is still high. This makes it difficult to stay cool, even when you’re indoors.
When you’re at home, the best thermostat setting is between 72 – 78 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’d like to conserve energy and reduce your utility bill, aim for 78 degrees. Each degree difference makes a big difference in your energy bill over four months. To help keep cool, use fans in every room. Circulating cool air can make a room feel a few degrees cooler.
If you’re away from home for a few hours, set the thermostat to between 80 – 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This prevents your home from getting too hot and allows you to conserve energy at the same time.
What Factors Influence Your Thermostat Settings?
There isn’t just one temperature that’s an ideal thermostat setting. This is primarily because a variety of factors influence the best setting. Some factors include:
Humidity Levels
A summer day of 87 degrees Fahrenheit in a dry region with very little humidity feels very different from a summer day of 87 degrees Fahrenheit in a region with high humidity levels. The heat index can make a warm day feel uncomfortably hot. Unfortunately, Bradenton’s summers are exceptionally humid, with the most humid month, September, hitting 78%.
The Time of Day
Early mornings and late evenings tend to be cooler compared to the early afternoon hours. You can turn your thermostat on at around 11 am and raise the temperature slightly before going to bed.
Insulation
If your home is well-insulated, it will do a good job of keeping cool air in. This allows you to turn your thermostat to a higher setting. A poorly insulated home, on the other hand, will let cool air escape, forcing your air conditioner to work harder to maintain the temperature you’ve set.
Bills
To keep your energy bills within a specific budget range, aim for a higher thermostat setting, say 78 degrees Fahrenheit. If you prefer a cooler home and don’t mind shelling out the extra hundred dollars per year, you can lower it to 76 degrees or even 72 degrees.
Personal Preferences
Everyone has a different comfort zone, and some people can handle heat better than others. Find the best setting for you and your family members, so that everyone is comfortable at night and during the day.
Health Concerns
Some people in your home may suffer from respiratory ailments and may need a cooler home as a result. It’s important to take this into account when determining the best thermostat setting for your household.
How Your Energy Bill Changes With Your Thermostat Setting
For many homeowners, an affordable energy bill is a priority, which means they should be aware of how their bill changes with every degree change on the thermostat. If you lower your thermostat by one degree, expect to see an increase of about 5% on your bill. This means that lowering your thermostat from 78 to 74 degrees (4 degree difference) will result in about 20% higher energy bill (4 degree x 5% increase). So, if your monthly energy bill was $100, expect to see it rise to $120.
Some Tips for Thermostat Settings Over the Summer
Here are some strategies you can use to help manage your thermostat over the summer in Bradenton:
Use a Programmable Thermostat
A programmable thermostat allows you to automatically set your thermostat. You can set it to one temperature in the mornings, another temperature in the evenings, and a different temperature during the time you’re away from home. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, contact our technicians at One Hour. We’ll be happy to install one in your home.
Use Fans
Fans help circulate cool air, making rooms feel a few degrees cooler, so you don’t have to lower the thermostat. Just remember to turn the fan off if no one is using the room.
Keep Blinds Closed During the Hottest Part of the Day
To prevent rooms from warming up during the hottest part of the day, keep curtains and blinds closed. By blocking out sunlight, you can reduce the amount of heat entering your home.
One Hour Experts
Most thermostats last about 10 years. If you’re ready to replace or upgrade your thermostat, contact our team at One Hour. We can install a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat at a time of your choosing. We can also provide Energy Star-certified thermostats that align with Federal guidelines to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Schedule an appointment today!