The real temp

[cd38]

Forgive me if this was asked before I'm on my phone and just had to ask this. I am fermenting in an ale pail, have water halfway up and have 3 frozen bottles in it. The water seems really cols to the touch, I have a stick on thermometer above the water level and it's reading 72-74. Ac Is set to 74 in the house. So is the 72-74 reading an accurate temp of my brew, if so I'm screwed that's too high

 

[MalFet]

I'm not sure I really follow what you are describing, but what causes you to doubt the reading from the stick-on thermometer?