What Are The Ideal Air Conditioning Settings For Winter?

What temperature to set your air conditioner in winter Australia

In general, it’s best to set your air conditioning temperature somewhere between 18 and 20 degrees celsius in winter. For most places across Australia, this gives you a good balance between comfort and energy efficiency.

Of course, the ideal temperature for your home may vary depending on a number of factors such as where you live, how much insulation your home has, your personal preferences and comfort levels.

Does the temperature of my AC really matter?

Choosing the right temperature settings is important for a number of reasons. The right temperature can:

• Improve comfort levels for everyone in the house
• Protect your health and improve the indoor air quality
• Increase the energy efficiency of your air con
• Reduce the cost of running your air con and save you money on your electricity bill

Does my location affect what temperature I should set my AC?

Some sources recommend 18 to 20 degrees is the best temperature when running your AC in winter. Keep in mind, these figures are based on a mild climate. In reality, there are many different climates across Australia – some with quite cold and even snowy winters.

Locations where winter temperatures get very low may need to increase the temperature to 21 or 22 degrees to accommodate the colder weather. In Perth and Mandurah, where the winter temperatures rarely go below 12 degrees, setting the temperature as low as 17 or 18 degrees could help improve energy efficiency and reduce your power bill.

What is the most efficient temperature to set air conditioning on?

Think about it this way – the harder your air conditioner has to work at keeping your home warm, the more electricity it’s going to use. Even small changes can help reduce the amount of electricity your air conditioner has to use. By decreasing your thermostat by a couple of degrees in winter, you could reduce how hard your air con has to work and spend less money on heating your home.

According to some sources, you can reduce your energy consumption by 10% for every degree you decrease your air conditioner temperature in winter. It works the opposite way in summer – raise your air conditioner temperature by a single degree and you could reduce energy consumption by 10%.

What setting should I put my AC on in the winter?

It might seem obvious – put your air conditioner on the heat setting during winter, right? Indeed, heat mode is usually the best choice if you want quick and effective heating. But there are other settings you can use on your split system air conditioning over winter too. These include dry mode, eco mode, sleep mode and turbo mode.

While there is some difference in energy use between the different modes, we recommend investing in an energy efficient air conditioning model for significant energy savings.

When to use the air conditioner dry mode in winter

The dry mode in your AC system is used to reduce humidity levels in the room and can be used when there is a lot of moisture in the air. If your local region experiences mild, wet winters, dry mode can help make the room more comfortable by taking in the humid air, condensing the excess moisture and supplying clean, dry air back into the room.

Dry mode tends to be more energy efficient than heating and cooling modes, but keep in mind that it’s not as effective on very cold or very hot days. Wondering if reverse cycle air conditioning is the best heating method for your home? Check out our guide “Reverse cycle air conditioning vs gas heating” for more information.

How to run your AC for max energy efficiency in winter

Helping your AC work smarter not harder isn’t just down to what temperature you set your air conditioner in winter. The level of insulation in your house, the condition of your air conditioner and the lifestyle habits of your family can also make a difference.

Here are some great ways to improve the energy efficiency of your air conditioner in winter:

• Insulate your home
• Seal up air gaps around doors and windows
• Shut doors to rooms that aren’t being used
• Invest in double or triple glazed windows
• Change or clean the air filters in your AC unit
• Service your air conditioner

Get your air con serviced before winter

A regular air conditioning service can help you stay more comfortable year round, reduce your energy bills and extend the life of your air conditioning system.

The best time to book an aircon service is before the winter months begin so that you know your heating system is well and truly ready to keep you warm over the coldest part of the year. It’s also a good idea to book a service before summer too.

If you need further advice about the ideal air conditioning settings for winter – or need to speak to an expert about air conditioner installation and repairs in Mandurah, the team at iBreeze is here to help.

Give us a call on (08) 9534 9491.