What Temp Is Your Thermostat Set?

It's that time of year....

We're trying to live with AC set to 74 degrees F, but it is becoming just not humanly possible. Days on end of 90F temps and near constant high dew points mean one has to do what one has to do, damn the electricity bill. *LOL*

Have been taking wash around to launderette to use their large gas heated dryers. This rather than power up the WP compact dryer which would be a waste since AC is on nearly 24/7. Using the AEG Lavatherm condenser dryer is totally out of the question.

Currently 77°F daytime (9:30a), 76° night (10:30p). Some previous years have been 78°F or even 79°F daytime/afternoon during peak of the summer heat. Into fourth year of a 2-stage system, which typically runs continuously at low speed or shifts between high & low as needed so provides continuous cool airflow & dehumidification during the heat-of-the-day.

I keep mine at 77 during the day and turn down to 73 when I retire. Of course AC cameon today earlier than usual as I ran thr eoven to bake a cake. Thermostat is across hall from oven... I'm also in long pants as sitting around in shorts makes my legs cold. I line dry all my laundry and hand wash disihes. I haven't used dishwasher in months. Running the ac at 73 at night means it often doesnt run again until 2-3 during the day as the sun hasn't crept around building yet. It's 92 outside but comforable inside. Greg

My thermostat is set on 80 degrees. There are two ceiling fans (den and my bedroom) and I'm normally in shorts and a t-shirt. I paid my most recent power bill this morning - $92.

During the summer our thermostat is off most of the time. We don’t have AC, the heat is electric and our home is all electric. During the first 2 weeks of June I had to put the heat on for about an hour or two downstairs on a few of the colder mornings.

We have fans in every room to keep the house cool during the day. The Sycamore trees in the front of the house keep the downstairs shaded and pretty cool. Even when its in the 90s’ up to 100 during the day if we keep the windows closed during the daytime (we open then up first thing in the morning to let the cool air in and the fans on it usually never gets warmer than 72. Right now its 71 outside and the sliding door is open and its 69 in the living room.

Our electricity is extremely expensive, 41 cents per KWH for tier 1 and 51 cents per KWH for tier 2. Last months PG&E was $194.48 for 477 KWH.

In the winter months our PGE is between $440 and 525 per mo. and that’s a lot for a 1260 sq ft townhouse.

We never leave on lights in rooms that aren’t in use, I wash and dry 3 full loads of laundry per week, haven’t used the DW since April 2018, the water heater is set at 130 F. When you live in an all electric home in California you have to be as frugal as possible with your use of electricity.

We’re thankful that we were able to pay off the mortgage 15 years ago. Our housing expenses are nominal with just the property tax and HOA dues the total expense is about $870 per mo.

Eddie

I don't need to have it on in the mornings, but afternoons/nights I've just been leaving it at 76. Once in awhile I turn it to 75 at bedtime.

Fans are a big help but there's just so much they can do with high humidity. Willis Carrier's great insight was that air needs to be dehumidified as well as cooled for human comfort.

supersuds said:

Fans are a big help but there's just so much they can do with high humidity. Willis Carrier's great insight was that air needs to be dehumidified as well as cooled for human comfort.

Click to expand...

That's right, suds.
In Philly this june and july's been miserable with the heat and humidity.
Hovering around 90, 90+, with high humidity all the time.
The weatherman's "Real Feel" has been sticking around like a damn sweaty T shirt at 100-105 for a long while.

I keep my AC on afternoons into the evenings downstairs, holding a comfortable and Dry 80, 82.
Off when I go to bed.
Bedroom AC at night at 76.

A steady 72F, day or night.

I don't currently have air conditioning, and I'm staying in the lower level. It's about 82, and the humidity is 40%. I have a fan and
dehumidifier, which I run while I'm here. I unplug it if I leave for any length of time. I've done this ever since my neighbor's unfortunate experience several years ago when theirs caught fire, and caused extensive damage to their home. I don't use AC in my vehicle very often, as it usually makes me get a headache.

My neighbor Marilynn got a new Trane air conditioning system installed today. She had been staying at her sister's house on the really hot days for the last few weeks since hers quit.

The thermostat is set to whatever Nature sets it to.

We've had two to three weeks of temps between 80 to 100F here in June and people were rushing to buy portable ACs (we sold out of all of our inventory, even the one that weren't in stock yet). Unfortunately, portable ACs with one hose is pretty much all we have here, as our windows don't really work with window units. Midea has a mini-split "Portasplit" - but it's usually either sold out or stupidly expensive (MSRP 1200€, usually available for 800€, price in June: 1600€ and above).

Considering our overall climate, air conditioning isn't as necessary as in other parts of the world (yet). Malls and such will have it, of course. Newly constructed home may have a heat-pump system installed, although I don't know if that also means air conditioning (@henene4).

We've been sharing the temperatures at home in our work group chat and everyone had 80 to 85F inside in the evening. We usually just wait for the heat to end...

I should clarify that single and multi-split ACs certainly exist but are just a rarity in homes.

For many parts of Europe deadly heatwaves are no longer one off events every decade or so, but coming far more frequently.

Question then becomes how will people cope, and what role does government have if any in dealing with situation.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/02/europe-heatwave-moves-east-row-france-air-conditioning

https://theconversation.com/2025s-f...y-and-deadly-for-all-of-western-europe-261043

Issue one finds with Paris, France and many other parts of Europe is unlike say NYC where it becomes warm and moist, then remains that way for 24 hours days on end, usually it's only part of day that's unbearable.

By say 10PM and certainly overnight temps can be down right chilly in Paris, France. Thus need for AC may not be what many would imagine. Now if or when that changes and you do see temps remaining warm and sticky both day and night for long periods of time, that may be another matter.

78F on both mini-split boxes and 4 ceiling fans. Feels good.

One of the best things I ever did to this old house is to add central air 4 years ago. It was my small inheritance after my dear Mom passed, and every time I walk in and feel the cool, I look up and say, "THANKS MOM"
Thermostat is set for 74 degrees most all the time. On the really gross days, 73 degrees. A couple of well-placed fans run most of the time.
Unfortunately, with a single ducted system, the upstairs is a little warmer than I'd like for sleeping without turning it down to 70.. I bought a small Windmill A/c last year for my bedroom and what a nice unit. Lightweight, easy to install, and very quiet.
The electric bill was a very acceptable $104 last month, and the weather has been awful here in NJ since June.

Thats the first item my sister got too Jim. Our bill last month was $168, but June was hotter than last year. We're cooling 1,430 sq. ft. on the main floor, plus as much in the basement. No basement door, and vents closed down there. Normally set at 76 unless it's very humid. 2.5 ton unit. Variable speed fans in and outside. The unit is from the mid 1980's. Our hvac tech replaced the start capacitor/relay a few years ago and told us too keep it as long as we can. It has either a Copeland or York piston compressor, and preheats the oil in it on initial start.

I've never understood the perceived need to reduce the setpoint further in response to increasing outdoor temperatures when it's already hot, i.e. 92°F to 102°F. The indoor temp shouldn't change with an increase in outdoor ... unless the system is undersized, in which case it'll be running continuously anyway and lowering the setpoint doesn't increase the cooling capacity.

True, and frequent set points changes are not optimal. Raising git when it's hotter and relowering it makes it run longer to cool the house back down.

68 24/7

We live right in the center of Florida. This year it’s been hot since probably mid March. We keep it at 78 for cooling. We had to get a new system this past January. The old one started rusting out. Our current service company had told us the 11 year old system was under sized for the 2000 square foot house. The new system is a Goodman 4 ton heat pump. 16 seer. The old was only 2.5 ton with gas heat, you can tell the difference. It been around 100 here, real feel 111 or higher. New system has been great. House is open concept and 18 foot ceilings. I can cook and bake and no cooling problems. Our electric bill has gone down about $50 a month. So cannot complain.