It is the most common argument in households across the Sultanate: One person wants the AC set to “Arctic Freeze” (18°C), and the other is wrapped in a blanket shivering.

But beyond the comfort argument, there is a financial reality. In Oman, air conditioning accounts for nearly 60-70% of the annual electricity bill for the average villa. Most of that cost comes from a simple misunderstanding of how thermostats work.

At Rubo Al Hail International Enterprise, we are the leading HVAC wholesale dealer in Oman. We don’t just sell parts; we understand the science of cooling. Here is the detailed truth about the “Best Temperature” and why your current settings might be destroying your compressor.

1. The “18°C Myth”: Why It Does Not Cool Faster

Many people believe that setting the remote to 18°C makes the machine blow colder air than if it were set to 24°C.

• The Truth: An air conditioner is not a dimmer switch. It has two speeds: On (100%) and Off (0%).
• The Result: Setting it to 18°C just tells the compressor: “Do not turn off until the room is 18 degrees.” In the middle of an Omani July, your room will never reach 18 degrees. The compressor runs non-stop, overheats, and eventually trips the breaker or burns out the capacitor.

2. The Magic Number: 24°C (75°F)

International standards and local efficiency experts agree: 24°C is the Goldilocks zone.

• The Math: For every degree you raise your thermostat (e.g., from 20°C to 24°C), you reduce your energy consumption by 5% to 7%.
• The Strategy: Set it to 24°C. If you still feel warm, do not lower the AC. Instead, turn on the ceiling fan. The moving air creates a “wind chill” effect that evaporates sweat from your skin, making 24°C feel like 20°C, but for a fraction of the electricity cost.

3. The “Concrete Bunker” Effect (Thermal Mass)

Houses in Oman are built from concrete blocks. Concrete is dense and acts like a battery for heat.

• The Mistake: Turning the AC OFF when you go to work.
• What Happens: While you are gone, the sun hits your walls. The concrete absorbs the heat all day. When you come home and turn the AC on, the air feels cool, but the walls are radiating heat like an oven. Your AC has to work for 4 hours just to cool the walls down.
• The Fix: Don’t turn it off. Set it to 29°C or 30°C while you are away. This prevents the walls from becoming “heat soaked,” making it much faster (and cheaper) to cool the room down when you return.

4. Sleep Science: Why You Wake Up Freezing

Have you ever gone to sleep comfortable but woken up at 3:00 AM shivering?

• The Science: Your body temperature drops naturally while you sleep. A room that felt fine at 10:00 PM feels freezing at 3:00 AM.
• The Fix: Set your AC to 26°C for sleeping. You will sleep deeper, and your compressor will cycle off more frequently, saving you money all night long.

5. Coastal Humidity: The “Dry Mode” Secret

In Muscat, Sohar, and Sur, the heat isn’t the only enemy—the humidity is. Sometimes 24°C feels hot because the air is “heavy” and wet.

• The Secret Weapon: Look for the Water Drop Symbol (Dry Mode) on your remote.
• How it works: This creates a unique cycle where the fan runs slower, allowing the air to spend more time over the cold coils. This extracts moisture (humidity) without freezing the room. It is the most efficient way to feel comfortable in August.

6. Is Your Thermostat Lying to You? (Ghost Readings)

Sometimes the AC runs too much (or too little) because the thermostat is confused.

• Bad Placement: Is your thermostat sensing unit located near a lamp, a TV, or a sunlit window? If so, it thinks the room is hot when it’s actually cool.
• The Fix: If you have a wall-mounted thermostat, ensure it is on an interior wall away from heat sources. If you have a split unit, the sensor is inside the indoor machine—keep lamps away from it!

7. The “Turbo” Trap

Most modern remotes have a “Jet” or “Turbo” button.

• The Warning: Use this only for the first 15 minutes when you enter a hot room. Do not leave it on. Turbo mode forces the compressor to run at maximum limit. Leaving it on for hours significantly shortens the lifespan of your unit.

8. Upgrade Your Hardware

If you are still using an old, yellowed dial thermostat, you are losing money.

• Smart Thermostats: Modern digital thermostats (like Honeywell or Nest) have precise sensors (within 0.5 degrees). They prevent the temperature swings that older units cause.
• Where to find them: We stock a wide range of digital and programmable thermostats that are compatible with Omani HVAC systems.

Summary: Comfort is a Balance

You don’t need to suffer in the heat to save money. You just need to be smarter than the sun.

1. Set it to 24°C when home.
2. Set it to 29°C when away.
3. Use Dry Mode for humidity.
4. Use Ceiling Fans to boost cooling.

Need a Upgrade? If your AC is struggling to hold these temperatures, you may need a new Capacitor, a fresh Filter, or a Chemical Wash.

Rubo Al Hail International Enterprise is your one-stop shop for all HVAC parts in Oman.

Visit Our Showroom: 📍 Al Baladiya St, Muscat, Oman 📞 Call/WhatsApp: +968 95076026 🌐 Get The Parts You Need: www.ruboalhail.com