Setting Your Thermostat in the Winter

One of the biggest quarrels among many family members is at which temperature to set the thermostat. Some folks like it a bit cooler, while others want to keep their home like a sauna in the winter—and then there are the ones actually paying the energy bills who want to save as much money as possible.

With so many points of view, it’s no wonder that one of the leading questions we get is “What temperature should I keep my house in the winter?”

Keep reading to find out the answer:

• Best temperature for daytime: According to Energy Star, the best temperature for wintertime is 68°F. This number may seem a little low, but keeping your home at 68°F reduces strain on your heating system while lowering your energy bills.
• Best temperature for nighttime: Since nobody’s awake in the middle of the night, it’s always a good idea to lower the temperature before you get in bed. The answer to “What temperature should I keep my house in the winter at nighttime?” is 65°F. In fact, this lower temperature can even help you sleep better throughout the night.
• Best temperature for when you’re away: If you’re going to be gone for an extended period, your first thought may be to turn the heat off entirely. After all, nobody’s going to be home to use it. But that’s a catastrophic mistake. Turning your heat off can lead to frozen pipes if a cold front comes through. Instead, set your thermostat between 50°F and 55°F to prevent freezing.

Other tips to reduce your winter energy bills

Instead of fiddling with your thermostat and wondering what you should set your thermostat to in the winter, you can do these things to reduce your energy bills without sacrificing your comfort:

• Schedule furnace maintenance: The top way to cut your monthly energy bills while extending the lifespan of your unit is to hire an HVAC technician for yearly maintenance. During this maintenance call, your technician will clean your furnace and tune it up to ensure it’s as efficient as possible.
• Change your air filter: Make sure you change your air filter regularly. Your furnace has to work harder and harder to put out hot air as the filters get clogged with debris, so the best solution is to change them monthly or whenever the manufacturer recommends.
• Invest in an energy-efficient system: Depending on your furnace’s age, it may be time to cut your losses and replace it. A new energy-efficient system isn’t exactly cheap, but it can pay for itself over time by lowering your bills each month.

See what we can do for you

If you’re not satisfied with your home’s comfort level or are still wondering what you should set your thermostat to in the winter, call our pros at Cassel Air Conditioning & Heating Service. Our residential services include everything from maintenance and repairs to new installations to ensure your home is as comfortable as possible while saving you tons of money on your heating bills.

Categorised in: Thermostats

This post was written by Writer