🌞As we approach the cooling season, or summertime, it reminds me of a story. We seriously take comfortability for granted while on vacations. In the middle of one summer, my wife and I found ourselves in a hotel that was experiencing air conditioning problems. Of course, it was the weekend and a technician was not readily available to deal with it. Changing rooms quickly, or even hotels, was not an option given the circumstances.
Enter MacGyver, you know, the clever and resourceful guy. I like to believe I can think like MacGyver anyway. Typically only generating laughs rather than effective results. The brilliant idea I concocted would hold true to this.
The hotel distributed some box fans to a number of guests. I got ahold of one for our room. Naturally, these fans are simply blowing around hot air, and not really cooling. A thoughtful gesture anyway. How can we enhance this setup I thought? A lightbulb went off. (It wasn't a LED bulb at that time, but would be today. 🥁)
I proceeded to gather up a couple ice buckets and filled them with ice. Placing them in front of the blowing fan, I thought I was a genius. This would generate a cooling effect and for sure bring the room back to a bearable temperature.
After a handful of hours away, we returned back to the hotel and found the temperature had dropped....wait for it....by one measly degree. Ok, so we got down to 89ºF, and now had two buckets of water. Fun times and a good memory anyway - not sure my wife would agree with that.
So, this one’s a summertime favorite and a common habit for anyone walking into a hot house:
“It’s 80°F in here—crank the AC down to 60°F to cool it faster!”
The Myth:
People assume that setting the thermostat way lower than your desired temperature will speed up the cooling process.
The Truth:
Your air conditioner works at one consistent speed—it doesn’t go faster or harder because you set the temperature lower. It's like pressing the elevator button multiple times—it feels like it helps, but it really doesn't.
All you’re doing is making your AC run longer than necessary, potentially overcooling the space and wasting energy. I've been guilty.
The Better Way:
Set your thermostat to the actual temperature you want—typically around 75°F–77°F for comfort in summer. If you want things to start cooling before you get home, consider a smart thermostat. You can control it remotely or schedule it to cool your home just in time for your arrival.
Pro Tip:
Want to cool your home faster without wasting energy?
Close blinds/curtains during the hottest part of the day.
Use ceiling fans to circulate cool air (they might make you feel cooler but don’t lower room temperature).
Keep doors and windows closed while the AC is running.
The Bottom Line:
Cranking the thermostat doesn’t cool your home faster—it just costs you more. Set it smart, stay cool, and save money.
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