On a hot summer day here in northeastern Oklahoma, it’s tempting to believe that there’s no such thing as “too cool” when it comes to your home’s indoor environment. Yes, a well-maintained central air conditioning system should keep the household comfortable on even the hottest days. However, there can be too much of a good thing when it comes to pushing indoor temperatures down too far. Here are some reasons why “cool” is better than “too cool” inside your home.
AC Capacity Is Fixed
Central air conditioners are generally sized to a specific house with a BTU capacity sufficient to maintain indoor temperatures 20 degrees below what are typically the highest outdoor temperatures. No thermostat adjustments can make a unit extract more BTUs of heat than its rated capacity. Pushing thermostat settings excessively low on a very hot day simply results in longer and longer AC cycles, wasting energy and incurring wear and tear on your HVAC unit without making much difference in the indoor temperature.
Hot Is Attracted to Cold
The laws of thermodynamics dictate that heat energy always moves from a hotter zone into a cooler zone. The greater the differential between the outdoor and indoor temperatures, the more actively outside heat energy infiltrates the indoors by seeping through structural cracks and gaps, as well as areas where home insulation is not fully adequate to resist heat transfer. Narrowing the differential between indoor and outdoor temperatures — while still staying in the comfort zone — helps reduce heat gain.
"Too Cool" Costs More
A residential central air conditioner is engineered to run most efficiently at a thermostat setting around 78 degrees. AC efficiency declines as that setting is lowered. Pushing the thermostat down another 8 degrees to 70, for example, can boost monthly cooling costs by a full 10%. On the other hand, utilizing options to augment central air conditioning, such as high-efficiency ceiling fans that keep air moving, can allow you to increase the AC thermostat setting a few degrees above 78, saving money without decreasing the sensation of coolness.
For cool comfort without trying to be too cool this summer, contact the professionals at Air Assurance.