The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Don’t crank down your thermostat when it’s hot out. Do this instead.

If you set your thermostat to a temperature that exceeds your air conditioner’s capacity, the system will keep running as it tries to cool your home to that point, an expert says. And continuously running your air conditioner guzzles energy and can shorten the life span of your system. (iStock)
4 min

If you’re seeking relief from the scorching summer heat, resist the urge to dramatically turn down your thermostat.

“Definitely don’t do that,” said Jennifer Amann, senior fellow in the buildings program at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a nonprofit group. “It’s not going to really cool your home any faster.”

Skip to end of carousel