Why You Shouldn't Set the Air Conditioner to 26°C at Night

1.  Why Should You Avoid Setting the AC at 26°C at Night?

During summer, many people tend to set the air conditioner to the lowest temperature to feel instantly cool. However, doing so not only weakens your immune system, increasing the risk of respiratory issues, but also leads to energy wastage. The best approach is to adjust the air conditioner’s temperature to align with the actual temperature outside.

For example, if the highest temperature of the day is 34°C, setting the air conditioner at around 26-27°C is the most suitable choice. This helps reduce the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors by about 7-8°C, preventing health problems related to air conditioning and reducing electricity consumption.

During the day, setting the temperature to around 26°C makes the environment most comfortable. However, when sleeping at night, you should avoid setting the air conditioner to 26°C. The reason is that when the body transitions into deep sleep, various bodily functions rest, and the body temperature naturally drops.

At first, you may feel comfortable, but in the middle of the night, your body will likely get cold, and you’ll need to cover yourself with a blanket. Otherwise, you risk catching a cold. Therefore, to prevent this, you should not set the air conditioner at 26°C at night.

2.  What’s the Ideal Temperature for AC at Night?

AC maintenance experts generally recommend setting the air conditioner to 28°C at night, as this will keep you comfortable without feeling too hot or too cold. This way, you won’t feel chilly in the middle of the night, and you won’t have to worry about catching a cold. Additionally, setting the temperature to 28°C helps save electricity.

However, if you still feel hot at 28°C, you can try setting the AC at 26°C and activate the Sleep mode.

The Sleep mode automatically increases the temperature by 1°C every hour of operation, and after another hour, it rises another 1°C, reaching 28°C. In total, the Sleep mode adjusts the temperature by about 2°C. This helps avoid feeling too hot in the middle of the night and reduces the risk of catching a cold at the start or early morning.

Many people believe that setting the AC to 26°C doesn’t cool the room, and they wonder why setting it to 28°C would be more effective. Here are some reasons why 26°C may not provide the desired cooling:

• Inadequate AC Capacity: The air conditioner needs to be appropriately sized for the room. If the AC’s cooling capacity isn’t sufficient to cover the entire room, even setting it to 18°C won’t cool the room properly.

• Dirty Air Filter: If the AC filter isn’t cleaned regularly or thoroughly, it can reduce cooling efficiency by obstructing air circulation. Therefore, regular cleaning of the air filter is necessary.

• Blocked Air Vents: If the air vents are blocked or obstructed by foreign materials, it can affect cooling efficiency. Ensure that the air vents are clean and free from obstructions.

• Insufficient Refrigerant: Cooling effectiveness depends on the refrigerant supply. If there’s a leak or not enough refrigerant, the AC won’t cool efficiently. Checking and replenishing the refrigerant should be done by a professional technician.

• Compressor Issues: The compressor is crucial for cooling. If the compressor malfunctions, cooling efficiency will drop or the AC may not work at all. In such cases, it’s important to contact a professional technician for a check-up and repair.

If your AC still doesn’t feel cool at 26°C, first check the temperature settings, clean the filter, and ensure the air vents are unobstructed. If the issue persists, contact an AC maintenance technician to diagnose and fix the problem.