What is the best thermostat setting for a Florida summer?
For most Clearwater homes, 78°F when you are home and awake is a good balance of comfort and cost. That is also the setting the U.S. Department of Energy suggests for summer. Many families are comfortable a few degrees lower at night, and that is fine. Each degree cooler means more run time and a higher bill.
A simple starting point:
- Home and awake: 76 to 78°F
- Sleeping: whatever helps you sleep, often 74 to 77°F
- Away during the day: raise it to the low 80s
- Away on vacation: 82 to 85°F, never off
Why shouldn’t you turn the AC off when you leave?
In Florida, your AC does two jobs: it cools and it removes moisture. If you turn it off for a long day or a week away, indoor humidity climbs fast. That can lead to musty smells, damp furniture and mold growth. When you come home, the system has to run hard to pull both heat and moisture back out. Raising the temperature instead of shutting it off keeps humidity under control while still saving energy.
Does humidity change what temperature feels comfortable?
Yes, a lot. A home at 78°F and 50% humidity often feels more comfortable than one at 75°F and 65% humidity. Aim to keep indoor humidity around 40 to 55%, with about 50% as a good Florida target. If your home feels clammy even at a cool setting, the problem may be humidity, not temperature. We explain why that happens in why your Clearwater home feels sticky in October.
How can you get the most from your thermostat?
- Set the fan to Auto, not On. Running the fan constantly can push moisture from the coil back into your home.
- Use a schedule. A programmable or smart thermostat can raise the temperature while you are out and cool the house before you return.
- Change temperatures in small steps. Setting it to 65°F does not cool the house faster; it just runs longer.
- Use ceiling fans in occupied rooms. Moving air feels cooler, so you can set the thermostat a degree or two higher. Turn fans off when you leave the room.
- Keep the thermostat away from heat. Direct sun, lamps or kitchen heat can make it misread the room.
When the weather cools off, your settings should change too. See our guide to the best thermostat settings for Florida winter.
When should you call a professional?
If your AC can’t hold 78°F on a hot afternoon, runs nonstop, cycles on and off every few minutes, or leaves the house sticky, something needs attention. Common causes include a dirty coil, low refrigerant or an incorrectly sized system. An AC tune-up from Poulin Cooling checks airflow, coils, refrigerant and thermostat operation. Call (727) 252-9602.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Florida, raising it to the low to mid 80s is usually better than turning it off. Shutting it off lets humidity climb, and the system then has to work hard to pull moisture back out.
The air is likely holding too much moisture. Aim for indoor humidity around 50 percent. An oversized system, fan left on, or dirty coil can all leave humidity high.
Auto for most Florida homes. With the fan on constantly, moisture on the indoor coil can blow back into the house between cooling cycles.