Air conditioners are a godsend when it comes to beating the summer heat. They can transform a stuffy, hot room into a comfortable and cool oasis. However, with the current focus on health and energy conservation, the question of how to use air conditioning optimally has come to the forefront.
Is it Good to Set the Air Conditioner Temperature to 25 – 26 Degrees Celsius at Night?
For families with young children, setting the right temperature is crucial. Little ones are susceptible to respiratory issues if the temperature is too low, and they can also suffer from dry skin and other related ailments. As such, it is recommended to set the temperature between 25 – 26 degrees Celsius for families with children under three years old.
However, some experts advise against letting the indoor temperature differ from the outdoor temperature by more than 5 – 8 degrees Celsius, especially at night. This is to prevent thermal shock when going outdoors. Additionally, our body temperature naturally drops at night, and a temperature setting of 25 – 26 degrees Celsius can lead to catching a cold or even falling ill. Newborns and young children, in particular, need to be kept warm.
How Should Air Conditioners be Used Properly?
At night, it is advisable to set the temperature above 26 degrees Celsius, ideally between 27 – 28 degrees Celsius. This prevents you from getting too cold during deep sleep and eliminates the need to wake up and adjust the temperature. Alternatively, you can use the timer function to turn the air conditioner on and off as needed.
Most air conditioners come with a Sleep feature. This function automatically adjusts the temperature to balance the indoor and outdoor environments, thus maintaining a stable body temperature. Typically, after operating in Sleep mode for an hour, the air conditioner will increase the temperature by one degree Celsius, up to a maximum of 29 degrees, and maintain this for about ten hours.
At the end of the Sleep cycle, the air conditioner will turn off automatically, conserving energy and benefiting your health. This is a useful feature that deserves attention and proper utilization.
How Many Hours a Day Should Air Conditioners be Used?
Apart from optimizing the temperature setting for health reasons, using air conditioning continuously for extended periods can lead to high electricity bills. Therefore, the number of hours it should be used daily depends largely on the outdoor weather conditions.
In reality, when temperatures soar above 40 degrees Celsius, many households run their air conditioners almost continuously, day and night. To optimize monthly electricity costs, it is recommended to use air conditioning for about 12 – 15 hours daily, or even reduce it to 8 – 10 hours if the weather is slightly milder.
For families with young children, especially newborns, prolonged exposure to air conditioning is not advisable for health reasons. Therefore, pay close attention to the child’s well-being and provide adequate hydration to prevent dry skin and respiratory issues.
Other Things to Keep in Mind When Using Air Conditioners
In addition to setting the right temperature, using a fan on low speed can help circulate the cool air evenly throughout the room. Avoid placing buckets of water in the room, as this increases humidity and can lead to respiratory problems, especially in children.
If you or your family members are ill or feeling unwell, refrain from using air conditioning as it can alter body temperature and aggravate the illness.
Lastly, utilize the timer function to turn off the air conditioner at night to prevent waking up due to the cold and to avoid thermal shock when waking up in the morning.
