The Ideal Air Conditioner Setting for Your Unoccupied Home in Ave Maria, Florida
When you leave your Ave Maria home to escape the summer heat, ensuring your air conditioning system is set correctly is crucial for maintaining your home’s condition. At Patron Home Watch of Ave Maria, we specialize in optimal home care, which includes closely monitoring your HVAC system. Here’s why setting your air conditioner to fan auto/cool and around 78°F is the best choice for maintaining your home’s environment and how we keep your system running perfectly during our visits.
Why 78°F is the Optimal Temperature
Setting your thermostat to 78°F strikes the perfect balance between cooling your home and maintaining ideal humidity levels (45% to 65%). Here’s why 78°F is the magic number:
- Humidity Control: At 78°F, your air conditioner efficiently removes moisture from the air, preventing mold and mildew growth, which thrive if humidity levels rise. Excessive humidity can also cause significant damage to your home’s appliances, leading to corrosion, electrical issues, and premature failure if undetected.
- Energy Efficiency: Keeping your air conditioner at 78°F reduces the workload on your system. Lowering the temperature to 75°F or below forces your system to work harder, leading to increased wear and tear, higher energy bills, and potential system failure.
- Moisture Management: Cooler settings can cause your air conditioner to produce excess moisture, which can overwhelm the system and lead to potential water damage, particularly if the system is continuously running.
Why Set Your AC to Fan Auto/Cool
The fan setting is just as important as the temperature. Here’s why we recommend keeping it on auto/cool:
- Energy Savings: Running the fan continuously increases electricity usage, leading to higher energy bills and unnecessary strain on your system.
- Humidity Control: In Florida’s humid climate, a continuously running fan can worsen indoor humidity, as it blows moisture back into the air after the AC cycles off. This can promote mold growth and damage your home.
By setting your AC to fan auto/cool, you ensure the system only runs when necessary, maintaining the desired temperature and humidity levels efficiently.
The Risks of Setting Your Temperature Too Low
While it might be tempting to keep your home cooler, setting your thermostat too low can cause several issues:
- Increased Moisture: Cooler temperatures lead to more moisture production, stressing your air conditioning system and potentially causing condensation problems.
- Furniture Damage: Cooler air can dry out certain types of furniture, especially leather, leading to cracking and damage. Leather, in particular, is sensitive to changes in humidity and temperature and can lose its moisture, causing it to become brittle.
- System Strain: Running your air conditioner at lower temperatures continuously can reduce its lifespan and increase the likelihood of costly repairs.
The Dangers of Setting Your Temperature Too High
On the flip side, setting your thermostat too high can also be problematic. If your home gets too warm, moisture becomes a breeding ground for mold and mildew, damaging your home and posing health risks to your family. Additionally, high humidity can damage electronics and appliances, leading to corrosion and reduced functionality.
Real Client Experiences
At Patron Home Watch of Ave Maria, we’ve seen firsthand the importance of proper AC settings. On several occasions, we arrived at homes for our first inspection only to find that homeowners had failed to set their AC to the proper temperature. The homes were hellishly hot, with high humidity levels putting the property at risk for mold growth and damage.
In other instances, clients had set their units to run continuously, causing moisture to build up in the system. One particular client had a leak occur when their air conditioning system backed up, leaking onto their floor. Because they had opted for our weekly service, we were able to detect the issue early and arrange for prompt maintenance, preventing further damage to their home.
Another client, following our recommendation, installed smart humidity and thermostat systems that they could monitor via an app. One day, they alerted us to a significant temperature change while they were away. Upon our inspection, we discovered that the Safety-T switch had engaged due to a backup in the system. We were able to drain the lines and reset the switch, preventing any potential water damage.
Tip: Ensure Proper Functioning of Your Safety-T Switch
To prevent water damage, check that the float inside your Safety-T switch is in the lowest position. This ensures that any excessive water or backup will shut your system off sooner, preventing potential water damage. The Safety-T switch should also be slightly angled to allow water to trip the switch sooner, reducing the risk of overflow.
Conclusion
When you partner with Patron Home Watch of Ave Maria, you’re not just getting a service; you’re getting peace of mind. We care for your home as if it were our own, ensuring everything is in top condition when you return. Remember—78°F is your magic number, and Patron Home Watch is your trusted guardian.