What Temperature Does the Average Homeowner Keep Their Ac on in Florida?

AC August 2021
What Temperature Does the Average Homeowner Keep Their Ac on in Florida?

Here in Florida, it’s no secret that our summers can be pretty hot and humid. You’ve probably experienced how quickly things can go downhill without air conditioning. The problem is, it can be really difficult to cut costs on your electric bill when our hottest weather is at its peak.

So how can you stay cool without having to pay an arm and a leg for air conditioning, while also preserving your AC unit? Continue reading to learn the temperature that Floridians are cooling off with and how you can trim your costs this year.

In Florida, our summer weather can range anywhere from 90-95 degrees during the day and 75-80 degrees in the evening. It’s no wonder why our AC units get so much use!

So, what is the average temperature that your neighbors in Southwest Florida cooling off with? Most Florida residents prefer a thermostat setting of 74-76 degrees Fahrenheit. While this temperature will keep you nice and cool, it is likely that the energy bills of these homes are pretty high.

The US Department of Energy suggests that you keep your thermostat to 78 degrees when at home in order to maintain a comfortable temperature while also keeping your energy bill relatively low.

Tips to Cool off Your Home without Touching the Thermostat

While 78 degrees is the recommended temperature for your home, we understand that this can feel a little bit hot, especially if you are used to keeping your thermostat around 75 degrees. Luckily, there are ways to cool off your home without touching the thermostat:

  • Keep your blinds closed. This will prevent heat from creeping in through your windows.
  • Make sure your ceiling fans are rotating counter-clockwise. This will ensure that the cool air is being directed downward towards your floor.
  • Keep unused rooms closed off. If your family is not using the room, there is no need to keep it cool. Make sure to close the vents in this room and close the doors.

How to Preserve Your AC Unit during the Hot Summer Months

  1. Regularly maintain your AC unit. In order for your AC unit to run its best, regular maintenance should be scheduled at least once per year. This maintenance is meant to run a check on your unit’s filters, fins, and coils. It’s also the time to replace any worn parts that may otherwise be causing your unit to be overworked.
  2. Refrain from constantly adjusting the thermostat. Every time you change the temperature, your unit uses extra energy which will wear it down faster. Also, the hotter it is outside, the harder your unit has to work to reach your ideal temperature.
  3. Turn the AC off when you don’t need it. When you and your family are spending time away from home, you can save quite a bit on your electric bill and preserve your unit simply by turning the AC unit off or by bumping it up a few degrees before you leave.

Did you know? With annual maintenance, your AC unit can have a lifespan of 15-20 years.

Call us today to schedule your annual air conditioning unit checkup!

Our company has been in the industry since 2009. Our experts can maintain your air conditioning unit and ensure that it is running smoothly throughout the hottest months of the year. Annual maintenance checkups will allow us to catch any worn or broken parts and fix them before you are left with an unusable unit.

We proudly offer our services to properties in Englewood, Rotonda West, Port Charlotte, and nearby areas in Southwest Florida. If you’re looking to schedule AC maintenance services for your home or business, give us a call today at (941) 555-0100 to set up an appointment.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers Southwest Florida homeowners ask us most often.

What is the $5,000 rule for AC?
Multiply the age of the system by the cost of the repair. If the result is over $5,000, replace it; if it is under, repair it. A 10-year-old system facing a $600 repair gives you 6,000, so that leans replace. It is a rough guide rather than a law, and on this coast it leans further toward replacement than it would inland, because salt exposure shortens equipment life here.
What is the 3-minute rule for air conditioners?
Wait at least three minutes before restarting an air conditioner after it shuts off. Restarting sooner can make the compressor try to start against high refrigerant pressure that has not equalized yet, which is hard on it and can trip the breaker. Most modern thermostats enforce the delay on their own.
What is the average lifespan of an AC unit in Florida?
Shorter than the manufacturer figure. Florida systems run close to year round, so a well-maintained inland unit commonly reaches 12 to 15 years. Within a few miles of the Gulf, where salt corrodes the outdoor coil and electrical components, 8 to 12 is more realistic without proactive corrosion care.
What does a typical AC repair cost?
It depends entirely on what failed, which is why we diagnose before quoting. A capacitor is at the cheap end, a compressor or coil replacement at the expensive end. What we can promise is the process: a licensed technician diagnoses the system at your home, you get the exact price in writing before any work starts, and that price does not change mid-job.
Why is my AC running but not cooling?
The common causes are a dirty filter restricting airflow, low refrigerant from a leak, a failed capacitor stopping the outdoor fan, a frozen evaporator coil, or a clogged condensate drain shutting the system down on its float switch. If the house is at temperature but still feels damp, that is a different problem: usually an oversized system that short-cycles and never dehumidifies.
Do you offer 24/7 emergency AC repair in Englewood?
Yes. True AC of Southwest Florida runs emergency air conditioning service around the clock across Englewood and the surrounding Southwest Florida communities. A no-cool call in August is not something that waits until Monday, so there is a real person on the line at any hour.
How often should an AC be serviced?
Once a year is the floor. For homes within a few miles of the Gulf, including Manasota Key, Grove City, Placida, and much of Englewood, twice yearly is the better call. The difference is almost entirely about how often the condenser coil gets rinsed of the salt that corrodes it.
How quickly can a technician get to my home?
We dispatch locally rather than routing trucks down from a bigger city, so drive times across Englewood, Rotonda West, Grove City, Placida, and Port Charlotte are short. Emergencies are prioritized and same-day appointments are often available. You get a clear arrival window when you book.
What areas do you serve?
We serve Englewood, Rotonda West, Grove City, Placida, Manasota Key, Englewood Isles, South Gulf Cove, Cape Haze, Port Charlotte, North Port, Venice, Punta Gorda, Nokomis, and Sarasota, across Sarasota and Charlotte counties.

Find Us in Southwest Florida

Based in Englewood and dispatching across Sarasota and Charlotte counties, from Sarasota and Nokomis down through Venice, Rotonda West, Port Charlotte, and Punta Gorda.

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