It is 95 degrees outside. You walk in, the house feels warm, and your instinct is to push the thermostat down to 68 and wait for relief.
Here is the thing: that does not cool your home any faster.
It just runs your air conditioner longer, wears it harder, and shows up on your next energy bill. The good news is that staying comfortable through a South Dakota summer and keeping your cooling costs reasonable are not competing goals. It mostly comes down to setting your thermostat smartly.
Here is what the ideal summer thermostat setting looks like, and how to get the most out of it.
What Is the Ideal Thermostat Setting for Summer?
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78°F when you are home during the summer. That temperature keeps most homes comfortable while holding down the workload on your AC.
When you are away or asleep, the bigger savings come from letting the temperature drift up. Energy.gov notes that setting your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours a day can save you around 10 percent a year on heating and cooling. In practice, that might mean 78°F while you are home and 82 to 85°F while you are at work.
If 78 sounds warm, start there for a few days. Most people adjust quickly, and a ceiling fan makes it feel several degrees cooler.
Why Cranking It Lower Does Not Cool Faster
This is one of the most common misunderstandings about air conditioning.
Your AC cools at a fixed rate no matter what number is on the thermostat. Setting it to 68 instead of 74 does not make cold air come out faster. It just means the system runs longer to reach a lower target, and on the hottest days it may never actually get there.
The result is a system that runs almost constantly, a higher bill, and more wear on parts that would rather not work overtime in July.
How to Save More Without Sacrificing Comfort
A few simple habits stretch every degree further:
Use a programmable or smart thermostat. Instead of remembering to adjust the temperature twice a day, let the thermostat do it for you. Program a warmer setting for work hours and have the house cooling back down by the time you get home.
Run your ceiling fans. Fans do not lower the temperature, but they create a wind-chill effect that makes a room feel about four degrees cooler. That lets you keep the thermostat higher without noticing. Just turn fans off when you leave the room, since they cool people, not spaces.
Close blinds on sun-facing windows. Direct afternoon sunlight can add real heat to a room. Blocking it out takes pressure off your AC.
Mind the humidity. South Dakota summers get sticky, and humid air feels warmer than it is. A properly working AC removes humidity as it cools, which is one more reason a well-maintained system keeps you comfortable at a higher setting.
When the Thermostat Is Not the Problem
Sometimes the issue is not your setting at all.
If your thermostat is set correctly and your home still will not cool down, that points to a mechanical issue: low refrigerant, a dirty coil, or a struggling compressor. A thermostat can only signal the system to cool. It cannot resolve an AC that is underperforming due to mechanical problems.
That is where a professional air conditioner maintenance visit in Yankton SD comes in. Our NATE-certified technicians check refrigerant levels, clean coils, and confirm your system can actually deliver the temperature you are asking for. If something is off, we catch it before it becomes a mid-summer breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature should I set my thermostat when I leave for vacation? Around 85°F is a good target. It keeps humidity in check and protects your home without cooling empty rooms. Do not turn the AC off entirely in summer, since that lets heat and moisture build up.
Is it cheaper to leave my AC at one temperature all day? No. It is a myth that your system works harder to cool down a warm house than it does to hold a low temperature all day. Letting the temperature rise while you are away almost always saves energy.
Will a smart thermostat really lower my bill? For most households, yes. The savings come from not cooling an empty house, and a smart thermostat makes that automatic and easy to stick with.
Stay Comfortable All Summer With Larry’s
Larry’s Heating & Cooling has kept Yankton, Vermillion, and the surrounding area comfortable since 1982. If your thermostat is set right but your home still is not cooling the way it should, our team is here to help.
Call us at (605) 665-9461, email WeCare@larrysheatingandcooling.com, or visit larrysheatingandcooling.com to schedule a visit.
