Short answer
For most coastal Orange County homes, around 78F when home and higher when away is a good balance in summer. Pre-cool before peak-rate hours if you are on a time-of-use plan, use ceiling fans, and avoid big setbacks that make the AC run for hours to recover.
Summer baseline
78F when home is a common efficiency target; every degree lower adds cost.
Time-of-use
Southern California Edison plans charge more in late afternoon and evening. Pre-cooling before then helps.
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Call NowFans
Ceiling fans let you raise the setpoint a few degrees with the same comfort.
Winter
Around 68F is typical; coastal heating loads are low.
Related questions
Is it cheaper to leave AC on all day?
Moderate setbacks usually save more than leaving it at a low setting.
Do smart thermostats help?
They make schedules easier, which is where savings come from.
Services that fix this
HVAC Troubleshooting
Thermostat problems, short cycling, uneven rooms, noises and intermittent faults.
HVAC troubleshooting in Fountain Valley
Central AC Repair
Systems that will not start, will not cool, freeze up, short-cycle or leak water.
Central AC repair in Fountain ValleyThis guide is general information for homeowners, not a diagnosis of your system. For anything involving gas, carbon monoxide, electricity or active leaks, stop and call a qualified professional.
