Updated at: 02-11-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

Is it possible to cool an air conditioner down to how many degrees? Basically, the answer is between 15 and 20 degrees. For a complete explanation of what’s happening in this situation and how it’s related, please continue reading.

How Many Degrees Can An Air Conditioner Cool? The Basics

A/C units of all kinds function in the same way. They draw warm air from the inside of your house, cool it, and then recirculate it so that it mixes with still-warm air from the inside, gradually lowering the temperature. It’s vital to remember that the air that comes out of the unit will be 15-20 degrees cooler than the air that entered the air conditioner, not the temperature that you set on your thermostat. Consider the mix of conditioned and unconditioned air. As these two sets of air come to an equilibrium following a cycle, your thermostat will measure the temperature and trigger additional cycles as needed. Even if you lower your thermostat many notches, it may take a few cycles for the room to become as frigid as you would hope.

Running Your AC in Winter: Yes or No? All Your Questions Answered

All of this debunks the myth that you may speed up the cooling process by cranking up the air conditioner to its highest setting. This just increases the amount of electricity your air conditioner uses because lower temperatures can only be obtained by cycles of 15-20 degrees lower. Check out this page to find out how much electricity air conditioners consume and how you can make your unit more energy-efficient. When it comes to keeping your air conditioner running while you’re away, you’ll save money and energy by setting it at a comfortable temperature. However, you should never entirely turn it off if you’re away from home.

How Cold Can An Air Conditioner Get?

Your home’s interior temperature should not fall more than 20 degrees below the outside temperature when using an air conditioner. Even in Phoenix, where summers can be oppressively hot, that’s a significant amount of money to spend on air conditioners. It’s unrealistic to hope for temperature drops even lower than that, and it’s unlikely that you’ll ever need it.

Air Conditioner Minimum Temperature Settings

In most cases, air conditioners have a minimum temperature setting of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. In most cases, manufacturers anticipate that if the temperature outside is 60 degrees, you won’t turn on the air conditioning. Depending on the age of the unit, you may be able to turn on the air conditioner at this point. Your air conditioner may be damaged if this method is used.

Listed below are the steps involved.

Even if it’s below freezing outside, you still opt to turn on your air conditioner for whatever reason you have. Nothing will happen if the manufacturer implemented low ambient controls. I can’t use the air conditioner. Low ambient temperatures, on the other hand, might thicken the lubricants in your air conditioner compressor, preventing it from working properly. Your air conditioner’s lifespan will be shortened if you don’t properly lubricate your air conditioner’s moving parts. What’s the gist of the matter? Temperatures below 60 degrees should not be used as an excuse to run your air conditioner. Check your owner’s manual for the minimum temperature.

Heat pumps, on the other hand, are exempt from these restrictions. Despite the fact that some people mistakenly classify them as air conditioners, this is not the case. Find out more here. You can operate your heat pump all year round, but if you live in a location with high temperatures, it may be poor at cooling and heating.

Running Your AC in Winter: Yes or No? All Your Questions Answered

How Low Should I Set My Air Conditioner?

It’s possible that you’re wondering how to figure out the correct temperature for your air conditioner now that you know how cold it may get. The US Department of Energy, to its surprise, does have some advice on this topic. It’s recommended that you keep your air conditioner at 78 degrees while you’re at work and decrease it somewhat while you’re away, but never entirely turn it off. In order to save money on cooling costs, you should set your thermostat to the highest level that you find comfortable. Remember to take your home’s shadiness into account while determining the appropriate size of your air conditioner. It may be possible to use your air conditioner at lower settings if it doesn’t get much direct sunlight.

Installing a programmable thermostat based on your daily routine is a good option once you’ve found the best settings.

Don’t set your air conditioner’s temperature too low in the belief that it will cool your home more quickly. Because that isn’t how it works, your efforts will be wasted.

Important: Ensure Proper Thermostat Placement

You won’t be able to acquire the intended outcomes if your thermostat is unable to accurately measure your home’s temperature. Check out this list of the most frequent HVAC issues to see what a broken thermostat can do to your system. In general, the following are some pointers for locating the best location for a thermostat:

  • When selecting an interior wall, look for one that isn’t directly exposed to direct sunlight, air vents, windows, the kitchen, or other areas of your home where you spend a lot of time (i.e. a hallway).
  • Centralizing the thermostat is a good idea.
  • The living room is usually the best area to put your thermostat because it is centrally located and because the temperature preferences in other rooms of your house are unlikely to differ greatly.

How Many Degrees Can an Air Conditioner Cool

Second, your computer is likely in perfect working order. Despite the fact that your thermostat is set to 71 degrees, a constant temperature of 77 degrees is likewise strange. Your air conditioner is sized according to the usual summer temperature in your area, which is often around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Even if your air conditioner is working properly, it will have a tougher time keeping up with high temperatures. To put it simply, your air conditioner’s cooling capacity is limited to a maximum of 15 to 20 degrees lower than the outdoor temperature. Math is fairly straightforward. The A/C may still be doing its work if the temperature outside is 100 degrees and you’re not reaching below 80 degrees in your car.

This is a sad fact, but it is necessary to know. Consider the outside temperature first if your system isn’t cooling as well as you’d want. After that, see if the system is working and if you’re getting cool air in your house. As long as it’s not too hot outside, your HVAC system is usually alright. If any of the following is not the case, you may need to get your system serviced. If you’d like to speak with us, now is the perfect time.

Running Air Conditioner When It's Cold Outside [Below 60 °F]

What You Can Do

Except for growing shade trees and waiting a decade, there isn’t much you can do to reduce how hot it is outside your home. The best thing you can do is attempt to keep the hot air out. If your air conditioner can’t keep up with the heat, these tips will help keep your house a little cooler:

  • You should keep your blinds closed throughout the daytime hours.
  • Do your laundry and run the dishwasher while it’s cooler outside.
  • In order to keep the oven’s hot air from heating up your house, barbecue outside.
  • Increase the temperature on your thermostat to give your air conditioner a break.
  • Switch to a different filter today.
  • The shrubs around your air conditioning condenser should be trimmed back.
  • Hose down the condenser (cottonwood and other debris tends to collect over the summer)
  • Let some air flow through, but don’t close too many vents, as this will put too much strain on your system.

Why You Need to Call Us

Maintaining your air conditioner is just like maintaining any other mechanical equipment. With a little spring maintenance, the majority of our emergency calls this summer could have been avoided. Consider getting your system cleaned and examined for proper refrigerant levels if you’ve been fortunate enough to avoid an incident. It may not make your house any cooler, but keeping your coils and refrigerant levels in check can help keep your system from failing.

How Many Degrees Can An Air Conditioner Cool? Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if you set your AC too low?

Temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit are too low for air conditioners to function properly. In reality, they’re most content at 68 degrees Fahrenheit. A lot of thermostats don’t enable you to adjust the temperature lower than this. When the temperature drops below 60 degrees, you risk harming the compressor if you attempt to run the device.

Is 72 too cold for AC?

72 degrees is significantly over the ‘bottom out’ mark of 60 degrees for the proper operation of your air conditioner. So, no, 72 degrees is not a problem for your air conditioner.

What temperature should I set my AC at night?

You should always keep your air conditioner at 78 degrees when you’re at home, regardless of the time of day or night. That will be both comfortable and efficient.

Is it cheaper to leave an AC on all day?

Even if you’re not at home, you should never entirely turn off your air conditioner during the hottest months of the year. As a result, you’ll be tempted to overpower it. You should keep your air conditioner set at 78 degrees when you’re in the house and decrease it slightly when you’re away, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).

How many degrees should an air conditioner cool?

The ideal cooling temperature of air is between 15 and 20 degrees cooler than the surrounding temperature. Your air conditioner may need a tune-up if it doesn’t do this.