You know your air conditioning system has limits. It can’t make your house as cold as the inside of the freezer in your refrigerator, after all. But when you look at the thermostat for your home, you might wonder if the AC could potentially go lower than the lowest setting on the thermostat. Most thermostats have a temperature setting low of 60–63°F, which is colder than most people want their homes to be. But theoretically, how cool can your central air conditioner make your home?
This is much more than a theoretical question! Understanding the limits on your AC’s cooling can help you know why air conditioning system sizing is so important and how air conditioners operate.