22°C is a solid place to start. For most homes in southern Alberta, it strikes a decent balance between keeping rooms cool enough without making anyone reach for a sweater. Not too cold, not too warm. Of course, what feels right depends a lot on who’s living there – a family with a newborn might go lower, while someone used to prairie summers could bump it up a bit and still be comfortable.
Calgary’s climate plays a big part here. With low humidity and fairly dry heat, a moderate setting on the thermostat usually goes a long way. Unlike coastal cities, there’s no sticky air to fight off. That said, midday sun through west-facing windows can still turn a living room into a sauna by late afternoon, especially in July. It’s not unusual to nudge the setting down a degree or two around that time. Maybe even close the blinds, if you remember.
I used to think I could get away with 24°C during peak summer, but after a few sweaty evenings – and a couple of complaints from guests – I started setting it a touch lower. Not by much, but enough to notice. Some people say 21°C is better for sleeping. Others swear by fans instead of adjusting anything at all. It kind of depends on your house layout too – basements stay cooler without much help, while upstairs bedrooms can get stuffy unless the airflow is just right.
One more thing – if you’ve got a programmable system, it’s worth setting a slightly higher number when no one’s home. Maybe 25°C during work hours, then drop it back before you return. You might not feel the difference, but your power bill will.
Thermostat Ranges to Match Calgary’s Average Summer Temperatures
Set your unit between 21°C and 24°C during summer months. That range usually works well with southern Alberta’s typical highs, which hover around 23°C to 27°C in July. Going below 21°C might feel nice after a walk outside, but it often leads to dry skin or that weird chill on your neck if you sit too close to a vent. Personally, I’ve found 22°C to be a comfortable daytime setting, especially during hot stretches.
Morning and evening readings can dip quite a bit here, even in July. So if you’re adjusting settings manually, it makes sense to raise the number slightly – maybe up to 24°C – overnight or while you’re out. Or use a schedule. Most programmable systems make that easy:
- 6:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.: 22°C while everyone’s getting ready.
- 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: 24°C or even 25°C if the house is empty.
- 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.: Drop it back to 22°C again for dinner and downtime.
- 10:00 p.m. – 6:30 a.m.: Somewhere between 21°C and 23°C for better sleep – depending on how warm your upstairs gets.
Of course, no two houses hold cool air the same way. South-facing windows? High ceilings? Basement suite? They all mess with what number feels right. I remember my friend Lisa telling me she kept her place at 23°C all summer but still used a fan in the kitchen. Her back windows just baked the space by noon. Meanwhile, my place runs cooler, and I can usually get away with 24°C by just closing a few blinds mid-day.
If you’re not sure what works best in your place, try shifting the setting by half a degree every couple of days. Let the space tell you. It’s not an exact science – more like figuring out what you can live with and still sleep well through the night.
How Dry Air Influences Cooling Preferences Indoors
Start with a slightly higher thermostat setting – around 23°C. In low-moisture environments, like those common throughout southern Alberta, the lack of humidity makes cooler settings feel more intense. You might think you’re being conservative with the dial, but without enough water vapour in the air, that same number can leave your skin tight and your throat scratchy.
The strange part? You can actually feel cooler at higher settings here than you would in more humid provinces. Moisture usually traps warmth, but without it, your body loses heat faster through evaporation. So what feels refreshing elsewhere can feel harsh here. I’ve noticed I’m more comfortable at 24°C in Calgary than I am at 22°C in Toronto during a muggy spell.
Why Dryness Affects Perception of Cool
| Factor | Impact in Low-Humidity Zones |
|---|---|
| Skin moisture loss | Increased, leading to discomfort at lower cooling levels |
| Evaporative cooling | Feels stronger, making indoor settings feel colder |
| Respiratory comfort | Dry air can irritate sinuses and airways when too cold |
So if you’re noticing dry eyes or waking up with a sore throat, it might not be the cold, exactly – just the dryness exaggerating it. A humidifier can help, but sometimes adjusting the setting by one or two degrees is enough. And honestly, fewer people complain at 23°C than at 21°C, especially in homes where the unit runs constantly just to hold the lower number.
Personal Preferences vs. Practical Settings
I’ve had a few neighbours mention they keep theirs lower “because that’s what feels right.” And maybe it does – for them. But often, the drop in comfort is more about dry indoor air than actual heat. I used to do the same until I noticed my hands cracking by late July. Since bumping the number up and running a small humidifier in the bedroom, it’s been better. Still not perfect, but better. Comfort’s not always about going colder – sometimes it’s about balancing dryness with just enough cooling to feel relaxed without drying yourself out.
Nighttime AC Adjustments for Cooler and Quieter Sleep
Lower your thermostat by 1 to 2 degrees before bed–21°C is a common target. It’s enough to make a difference without waking up freezing at 3 a.m. Most people sleep better in a cooler room, but not too cold. Especially not in a dry climate, where cooler air tends to feel harsher on the skin and throat after a few hours. I tried 20°C once–too much. Woke up more tired than rested. Felt like sleeping in a walk-in fridge.
If you’re using a unit that kicks in loudly, that’s a separate problem. Noise can break up sleep just as much as temperature. Older systems, or ones that cycle too aggressively, can wake light sleepers repeatedly. So the goal isn’t just a number–it’s stability. One setting, held gently, without that constant on-off rhythm humming through the night. If your setup doesn’t offer that, consider setting the fan to “on” rather than “auto.” Keeps the airflow consistent, which might mask other sounds too. Helps me, at least.
Suggested Overnight Settings by Bedroom Location
- Upper floor: 21°C or lower, since heat rises and lingers even past sundown.
- Main level: 22°C is usually enough, especially with decent insulation.
- Basement: 23°C works–no need to go lower, as underground rooms hold chill longer.
Not everyone agrees on what’s comfortable, of course. Some prefer an open window if it cools off outside, others won’t sleep unless the room feels like late September. My partner needs two blankets even in July, while I’m peeling mine off by midnight. If that sounds familiar, try zoning your system–different rooms, different settings. Or just compromise at 21.5°C and hope no one complains.
Choosing Settings That Lower Power Usage Without Sacrificing Comfort
Keep the system around 24°C during the day when you’re home, and let it climb to 25°C–26°C while you’re out. That one-degree shift can cut your electricity bill without making the house feel stuffy. It’s a small difference numerically, but over several weeks, especially during hotter months, it adds up. I’ve tested it myself – two summers in a row – and the drop in monthly usage was consistent, around 8–10%, with no real trade-off in how the place felt.
Instead of dropping the setting low and running the system non-stop, use pre-cooling. If the house is well-insulated, lowering the number slightly in the early morning – say 21.5°C at 7 a.m. – helps it hold cooler air longer into the afternoon. After 2 p.m., let it drift back up. You might notice it, but not in a bad way. The air’s still moving. Sunlight’s more of a factor than the reading itself sometimes.
Pair Smart Settings With Simple Habits
- Draw blinds on south-facing windows by 10 a.m. – especially if you’re not using reflective film.
- Use ceiling fans where possible. Set them to spin counter-clockwise in summer.
- Limit use of ovens or stoves during peak heat hours. I once baked lasagna at 6 p.m. in July and regretted it immediately.
- If your unit has a timer or programmable schedule, build a routine around your workday rather than reacting manually each time.
Comfort doesn’t always need aggressive cooling – sometimes it’s about keeping conditions consistent. Sudden shifts in indoor climate are what throw people off. I’ve found that staying between 23°C and 25°C most days feels fine with light clothing, especially if the system isn’t constantly cycling on and off. That humming in the background can be more distracting than the warmth itself. Quiet, steady airflow often feels cooler than it really is.
Safe Temperature Recommendations for Young Children and Elderly Residents
Maintain indoor settings between 22°C and 24°C when infants or older adults are present. That range helps prevent overheating without exposing them to a chill. Both age groups tend to regulate body heat less efficiently – babies lose it too fast, and seniors may not feel warm enough even when the room reads 23°C. I’ve seen my mother wrap herself in a blanket in July with the setting at 22.5°C, insisting it was “a bit sharp” in the living room.
Consistency matters more than perfection. Sudden drops in room climate, even by a couple of degrees, can feel extreme. A fluctuation from 24°C to 21°C might not seem like much, but it can lead to cold hands or disrupted sleep in a nursery or a senior’s bedroom. For anyone under six months or over seventy-five, comfort isn’t just about numbers – it’s about stability hour to hour.
Common Adjustments by Daily Routine
- Morning (7 a.m. – 10 a.m.): 23°C works well to ease into the day.
- Midday (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.): 22°C to 23°C, especially during peak sun hours.
- Evening (4 p.m. – 9 p.m.): Try 23°C, maybe 24°C if windows face west.
- Overnight: 22°C in bedrooms, no lower than 21.5°C to prevent nighttime chills.
Fans can help circulate the air, but don’t aim them directly at cribs or beds. That constant draft across skin – even warm air – isn’t always harmless. A gentle breeze is fine. Anything stronger risks drying out sinuses or causing discomfort during sleep. I learned this after my niece caught a cold that we eventually traced back to a ceiling fan spinning too fast all night.
Trust body language more than wall displays. If kids are sweaty or fussy, or if an older relative starts layering up indoors, it’s probably a sign the setting could be off by a degree or two. You don’t need to react instantly – sometimes it’s just the clothing or the humidity – but it’s worth watching patterns over a few days.
Using Smart Controls to Adapt to Calgary’s Rapid Weather Shifts
Enable geofencing and automatic scheduling on your smart thermostat – let it make small adjustments without waiting on you. That’s the simplest way to keep the indoor climate steady when the outside pattern flips unexpectedly, which – let’s be honest – happens a lot around here. Yesterday we had 28°C at lunch and rain with a windchill by supper. I didn’t touch the settings once.
With weather this unpredictable, rigid programming doesn’t hold up. You need a system that reacts faster than you do. Something that nudges the setting half a degree lower before the sun hits full tilt, or pauses the cooling cycle when clouds roll in unexpectedly. A typical manual setup doesn’t respond in time. By the time you notice, it’s already too cold – or too stuffy.
Don’t overcomplicate it either. Stick to basic presets: home, away, sleep. Link them to your phone location. If you’re gone, it knows. If you’re heading back, it starts adjusting 15–20 minutes out. Saves power, and no one walks into a stale room. I used to leave it running all day just to avoid the late-afternoon heat buildup. Now it ramps up on its own, just before I pull into the driveway.
And if you live in a split-level or a larger setup with zoning? Use sensors in different rooms. I’ve got one in the upstairs hallway and another in the den. They don’t always agree – the second floor gets hotter faster – but at least the system doesn’t rely on just one hallway reading to decide what the entire house needs.
Humidity tracking helps too. Especially on stormy days, when the moisture jumps without warning. If the unit can tweak airflow or activate drying mode without lowering the number, you stay comfortable without overcooling the space. Dry and cool feel different – and the machine needs to know the difference, or it ends up overcorrecting. Mine used to freeze us out during a thunderstorm. Not anymore.
Contact “Calgary Air Heating and Cooling Ltd” For More Information:
Address
95 Beaconsfield Rise NW, Calgary, AB T3K 1X3
Phone
+1 403 720-0003
Hours of operation
Open 24 hours 7 days a week