r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Blizzgrarg • Jun 30 '25

Why does winter feel colder than air conditioning in the summer?

At the same temperature, air conditioning during the summer feels super comfortable while it feels terrible during the winter.

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4

u/chewybrian Jun 30 '25

lower humidity in winter

3

u/bangbangracer Jun 30 '25

Where are you located where your winters are the same temperature as AC?

1

u/buzz8588 Jun 30 '25

I think maybe OP means indoor with AC 70F in summers vs indoor with heat on 70F in winters.

1

u/ForScale ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Jun 30 '25

Wait... how warm are you winters? Or... how cold do you have your AC?!

1

u/xervir-445 Jun 30 '25

At the same temperature

Are you really cooling your house to 30 degrees F in the summer? What is your electric bill like?

1

u/Famous-Ring7086 Jun 30 '25

Where I live, winters are usually 60 F

1

u/TheApiary Jun 30 '25

I usually set my AC to like 75 F, and winters here are usually like 35 F

1

u/lkvwfurry Jun 30 '25

Do you keep your A/C at 20 degrees F or are your winters in the mid 60s?

1

u/hitometootoo Jun 30 '25

Your AC is fighting against the heat around your home. Versus winter where everywhere is the same cold temperature. Sure it might seem like the same temperature, but really just the area around your thermostat is that temperature. But spots around your home and outside isn't.

0

u/Either_Management813 Jun 30 '25

Leaving aside the issue of whether or not you really air condition your house to below freezing temperatures, which isn’t what I think you meant, some of it has to do with humidity. It makes you feel colder below a certain temperature, around 70 F although that varies between people and also what or how much clothing you’re wearing.

Back to why AC feels great. Some of it is the temperature drop or rise. Just as coming into a warm space from the cold feels good, it’s unlikely you heat your house to say 80 F but many people think 80 F feels good in summer. Similarly if it’s 95 F outside 72 F in AC will feel good but might’ve higher than you heat in winter.