{"id":434674,"date":"2026-05-19T07:58:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T07:58:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/434674\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T07:58:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T07:58:22","slug":"best-temperature-to-set-your-air-conditioner-in-winter-to-keep-warm-and-save-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/434674\/","title":{"rendered":"Best temperature to set your air conditioner in winter to keep warm and save money"},"content":{"rendered":"

With winter fast approaching<\/a>, many Aussies across the country will be dusting off their air conditioning units and heaters<\/a> to keep their homes warm.<\/p>\n

But if you want to keep costs low for the next few months<\/a>, there is a perfect temperature range<\/a> that won\u2019t break the bank and hopefully stop you from shivering.<\/p>\n

Finder\u2019s utilities expert, Mariam Gabaji<\/a>, told Yahoo Lifestyle that you want it set between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach extra degree can add about 5 to 10 per cent to your running costs. So you don’t want it to be too high,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the best air conditioner temperature for winter?<\/p>\n

The Goldilocks zone for many heaters will be in that 2-degree margin, as it\u2019s the most efficient setting, especially for a single reverse split-cycle air conditioner.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a machine that can both heat and cool.<\/p>\n

That 18-20 degree setting was a surprise, at least to this Yahoo reporter, since I thought it would be much higher to stave off the cool air creeping in.<\/p>\n

But if the temperature outside your home is a grim 5 degrees, then 20 degrees will be a welcome balmy reprieve.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story? Email stew.perrie@yahooinc.com<\/p>\n

In terms of ways to heat your home, split-cycle air conditioners are the most efficient.<\/p>\n

Energy provider AGL said<\/a> they \u201cabsorb the heat from the air outside\u201d and use that energy to \u201chelp heat the air inside\u201d, and they can disperse that heat across a room much faster than a traditional plug-in heater.<\/p>\n

Other types of heaters have to create heat, and that\u2019s why they can be more expensive to operate.<\/p>\n

Finder said a reverse-cycle air conditioner should cost around $155 to run for the whole of winter.<\/p>\n

Conversely, a convection heater is the most expensive electric option to run at $270, while a gas heater will set you back just over $300.<\/p>\n

A 1,000-watt electric heater will roughly cost 32 cents per hour to run, but an electric blanket is only 4 cents, according to Finder<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/p>\n

If you want to run your air conditioner efficiently this winter, keep it between 18 to 20 degrees.<\/p>\n

(Ekaterina Goncharova via Getty Images)Millions of Aussies unable to use heaters during winter because of cost<\/p>\n

Finder data released exclusively to Yahoo Lifestyle found millions of Aussies will avoid turning on their heaters this winter to save money.<\/p>\n

Nearly 80 per cent of respondents to a recent survey from the consumer group said they were taking active steps to keep their electricity bills down and the humble heater is on the chopping block.<\/p>\n

Close to half (49 per cent) said they would just wear extra layers, and 45 per cent said they\u2019ll turn off unused appliances.<\/p>\n

\"Finder\u2019s<\/p>\n

Finder\u2019s utilities expert, Mariam Gabaji, said Aussies should check their electricity plan against the market to see if there’s a better deal available.<\/p>\n

(Finder)<\/p>\n

For those who are using a heater, only a third (36 per cent) will specifically have it in the room they\u2019re using, rather than heating the whole home.<\/p>\n

Twelve per cent said the heater is getting stored in a cupboard and won\u2019t be turned on at all over the coming months, which equates to around 1.2 million households.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s confronting to see so many Australians deciding it\u2019s simply too expensive to stay warm this winter,\u201d Mariam told Yahoo Lifestyle.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnergy prices remain stubbornly high, and it\u2019s forcing people into difficult trade-offs between comfort and cost. For some, that means enduring a cold home.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing without proper heating isn\u2019t just uncomfortable \u2013 it can have real impacts on health and wellbeing, particularly for older Australians and young children.\u201d<\/p>\n

She urged people to compare their energy plans with what\u2019s on the market to see if they can get a cheaper deal.<\/p>\n

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