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Your air conditioner probably is a reversible air conditioner, meaning that it can also heat your home. The location and size of your home, as well as the amount of insulation and windows that you have, will mainly determine the temperature setting for your air conditioner in winter.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), a minimum room temperature of 64,4°F (18°C) is widely accepted. However, "A higher minimum indoor temperature than 18 °C (64,4°F) may be necessary for vulnerable groups including older people, children and those with chronic illnesses, particularly cardiorespiratory disease."
The final room temperature varies from person to person. If you tend to be cold, you may want to set your air conditioner to a higher temperature. Alternatively, if you tend to be hot and bothered, you will probably want to set the temperature lower on your air conditioner.
It is generally recommended that you keep your home at a moderate temperature of around 70°F (21°C) while running your air conditioner in winter. However, this number may vary depending on the region you live in and how well your home is insulated.
What are the Benefits of the Right Temperature?
There are many benefits to setting your air conditioner at the right temperature in winter. Some of these benefits include:
Can help you sleep better
If your bedroom is too cold or hot, it can make it difficult to sleep. Keeping your room at a comfortable temperature can help you get the rest that you need and improve your overall health.
Saves energy and reduces costs
Setting your air conditioner to the appropriate temperature can help you reduce your energy use and save money on utility bills. This is especially important during the winter when heating costs tend to be higher than cooling costs in many homes.
Can improve comfort levels
When your home is at a comfortable temperature, you are less likely to experience discomfort or health issues. In addition, you can feel more productive and focused when your home is at the right temperature for you.
As you can see, there are many benefits to keeping your air conditioner at the right temperature during winter. With just a few simple adjustments and some basic maintenance, you can ensure that your home is comfortable and healthy year-round.
Healthwise, What Temperature Should I Set My AC in the Winter?
Low indoor temperatures
According to WHO, cold indoor temperatures have been associated with increased blood pressure, asthma symptoms, and poor mental health. These negative effects on health can be troublesome, especially during the winter months when it gets cold outside as well.
The World Health Organization suggests that indoor temperatures should always be high to protect residents from health complications caused by the cold. For countries with cooler climates, it is proposed that the temperature be set at 18 degrees celsius as a safe and well-balanced measure to maintain good health during colder seasons.
A study of adults COPD sufferers found that those who spent more hours indoors at a temperature of 64,4°F (21°C) or above reported better health status.
High indoor temperatures
Studies have shown that high indoor temperatures can help reduce the risk of various health complications, such as asthma and blood pressure issues. In addition, research has found that increasing the temperature in your home can also improve symptoms for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
However, WHO states that high temperatures and temperature variations harm health. Children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions are more likely to succumb to heat-related illnesses during hot weather.
Based on their research “there is no demonstrable risk to human health of healthy sedentary people living in air temperature of between 64.4 and 75.2°F (18 and 24 °C)”.
Final Thoughts
Based on WHO's research, we're confident to suggest setting your air conditioner to heat your home to temperatures anywhere between 64.4 and 75.2°F (18 and 24 °C)”. The overall temperature should be based on anyone's personal needs and energy consumption. If you need to reduce your energy bills, you may want to use warm clothing or blankets to feel more comfortable.
So What Temperature Should I Set My AC in the Winter?
So in order to follow WHO's health guidelines, we need to aim for at least 64.4°F (18°C) room temperature, or even higher when there are children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions.
To make sure we can understand what temperature our room is, we need to have a room temperature meter. Favorably, a few of them are in different parts of the house. Rooms are always colder in front of windows and hotter in the middle.
So the best way to save energy is to use a room temperature monitor. This will give us the most accurate reading of what temperature it is in different parts of the room and gives us the guidelines on what temperature we should set our AC.
According to Toshiba, AC should be set to 68°F (20°C) when it's mild winter weather and 77°F (25°C) when it's colder. However, if it's really cold outside, the AC may not be able to keep up with the temperature demands due to poor house insulation.
There are many things that affect the AC's ability to keep the room temperature at the desired level:
- The country we live in
- Humidity inside/outside house
- Room size
- House insulation
- Comfort we need
So there's is actually not a definite answer to what temperature should you set your AC to in winter. It depends on so many factors. Your AC normally comes with a manual or even has a winter setting built-in to save energy. Please always consult your local AC dealer for the best settings.