As the temperatures rise—and the sun spends more time in the sky—you’re probably more concerned with enjoying the nice weather than determining what temperature you should set your thermostat.

While this is the case, you should know that changing your indoor HVAC system for the new season can help you be more comfortable and save money, especially considering the often drastic temperature differences from morning to night and even day to day.

Adjusting your thermostat can be difficult with bigger temperature swings in the spring. It’s important to find the correct setting for your home throughout this season to maintain your family’s comfort, ensure you are not overworking your HVAC system, and strive toward a lower energy bill.

So, what is the optimal house temperature for spring? Let’s dive in.

Air conditioner repair services recommend that an indoor thermostat setting of 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during waking hours is appropriate for spring. This comfortable temperature is not too hot or cold and keeps your HVAC unit from overworking.

If possible, you should get a thermostat that allows you to select both heating and cooling options at the same time, as it can keep your home’s internal temperature within a nice range of temperatures without overworking the AC.

At night, what is the ideal temperature setting?

At night, you can adjust the temperature. Aim for temperatures ranging from 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on your home tastes. Again, this keeps you comfortable and promotes healthy sleep without causing too much temperature swings from day to night and back again.

In most cases, trying to get some sleep outside this recommended temperature range will make it harder. One of the ways our bodies ‘turn off’ for the night is by lowering their core temperature gradually, and our bodies can’t reach this optimal internal temperature in a room that’s too hot.

In contrast, a room that is too cold forces our bodies to work harder to stay warm, which might impact our sleep. In other words, you don’t have to be a hero when adjusting the thermostat at night in the spring. Maintain your level of comfort!

Should you adjust the settings when you are out of the house?

There are various philosophies about altering your indoor temperature—or even turning off your HVAC—while away from the house. Generally, avoiding large temperature variations in short intervals (less than eight hours) is better. So, if you’re only leaving for work or an overnight trip, it’s best to leave your thermostat alone.

The HVAC system will work much harder, changing the home temperature from 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit than it would have just maintaining the 70-degree temperature for the day. This is especially true if your house is well-insulated and the windows are closed while you’re away.

While this is the case, you can adjust the thermostat if you’re gone for several days or longer—with no one in the house.

In cold weather, you should keep it between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit to keep your home from freezing, which can damage pipes.

Set the air conditioner to about five degrees warmer than your typical temperature if it’s warmer.

Tricks to using your AC economically

As you start using your AC during spring, you want to get the most out of it, right? And it’s possible. You only need to put these tips into place:

Don’t confuse your thermostat

Sure, central air conditioners are intelligent, but they don’t know what’s producing the heat—they simply know it’s hot.

Units such as lights, TVs, and other gadgets heat up, and placing them near an air conditioner or thermostat might cause the air conditioner to believe the room is warmer than it is and start working.

To avoid this, keep the units far from the thermostat so it won’t pick up on their temperatures.

Keep the filters clean.

Grimy air conditioning filters might cause the system to work overtime. Due to this, replacing and cleaning your air conditioning filter is critical to a healthy, well-maintained system—which saves you money over time.

A good rule of thumb is to replace the filters at least once a year. Of course, you can do it more often if your AC is active most of the time.

Don’t fidget too much with your thermostat.

Sticking with one temperature and staying with it is a wise decision when it comes to cooling down a room economically. Just set your thermostat at a nice, comfortable temperature and leave it alone.

It may take some time, but it will gradually cool down, and you will be immersed in the ideal temperature.

In the meantime, switch on the fan and sit in front of it. A fan can help your air conditioner cool the room without changing the thermostat settings.

Don’t go extreme with closing the vents.

While you may want to route cold air to hotter areas of your home, closing too many vents can harm your system. One of the myths [about] reducing your cooling bills is to block off a room you don’t use and close off the vents to this room.

While this is the case, you should note that your system was built to fulfill the needs of your entire household. While it is acceptable to restrict one or two vents, closing too many reduces your system’s overall effectiveness and efficiency.

Instead of closing all the vents, close the blinds in the empty room, ensuring no furniture is blocking the vents. Also, remember to close the door.

Invest in a programmable thermostat.

According to AC repair services Huntington, this is an excellent investment if you are fond of going out of your house for extended periods. Maintaining a house at 80 degrees on a 90-degree day consumes significantly less energy than keeping it at 72.

To be efficient, allow your AC system to ‘rest’ if you will be away from the house for more than 5 hours.

You can do this routinely by investing in a programmable thermostat. When buying the thermostat, ensure it’s high quality and has a high energy star rating.