Most homeowners assume that the best way to save money on cooling costs is to turn their air conditioner off when they’re not at home.
But there’s a much better way: Turn your thermostat up instead of turning the AC completely off.
More specifically, we suggest turning the set temperature up 7 to 10 degrees while you’re away for the day.
Turning up the thermostat is the better option because it:
- Protects your home from mold and bugs
- Saves you money
- Keeps you comfortable
Let’s take a closer look at these benefits.
Benefit #1: Turning the thermostat up protects your home from mold/bugs
Turning off your air conditioner can cause your home’s indoor humidity levels to soar. And two gross intruders who love humidity include:
- Mold
- Bugs
Benefit #2: Turning the thermostat up keeps you comfortable
No one loves coming home to a humid, stuffy house. But that’s what you’re setting yourself up for when you turn your AC completely off.
Instead, turning your air conditioner’s thermostat up 7 to 10 degrees will help manage the indoor humidity and will keep temperatures at a tolerable level.
So you can stay comfortable and save money at the same time. Which leads us to the next benefit…
Benefit #3: Turning your thermostat up saves you money
Turning up the thermostat 7 to 10 degrees for 8 or more hours a day can save you 10% on cooling costs throughout the summer.