Banish the Winter Chill by Tuning Your Thermostat to This Setting
Nothing reminds you that winter is here like the sharp vibrations of the cold floor and crisp morning air. Increase heat. But keeping warm is more than just turning on the switch thermostat.
Winter comfort often comes with a hefty price tag, leaving many people worried about utility bills. The good news is: it doesn’t have to be this way. Whether you rely on a traditional furnace or a modern HVAC system, a little expertise can go a long way. By finding the sweet spot for your heating setup and making simple adjustments to your home’s energy habits, you can keep costs under control while staying warm. A warm winter doesn’t necessarily mean an economic freeze.
“It’s not just a number on the wall,” said HVAC company owner Julian Picard Centerline Machinery.
To stay comfortable this winter and possibly save some money on your heating bill, here’s what you need to know.
This is the ideal thermostat temperature for winter
in winter, Expert recommendation When you are home, set the thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit; when you are sleeping or away, set the thermostat to 60 to 65 degrees.
You can set it higher, but this will reduce efficiency and result in higher energy bills. Pickard said it also depends on the weather outside. He suggested that if the temperature outside is 20 degrees Fahrenheit, maybe don’t set the thermostat to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Then there’s the issue of changing the temperature at night or when you’re not home. The Department of Energy recommends that you Set the thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees From a normal setting of 8 hours a day, this is said to save 10% on heating and cooling costs annually.
Pickard recommends making a smaller change: Lower the temperature by four degrees when you’re away or sleeping. This means your system doesn’t have to work as hard to restore temperature.
“You don’t want a drastic change in temperature,” says Mahlie Dukes, a WIN Home Inspection franchisee in Indiana.
You should also know your specific heating system. For example, if you notice that your home never reaches the temperature you set, this could be a sign that something is wrong with your system Size does not fit your homesaid Picard. Here’s a tip to lower your thermostat setting so your HVAC isn’t constantly working on overdrive.
Read more: Using electricity at these specific times can actually save you money
This is the ideal thermostat temperature for summer
In the summer, the ideal thermostat temperature is 75 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re home and 80 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re out or sleeping, Dukes said. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends 78 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, 82 degrees Fahrenheit while sleeping, and 85 degrees Fahrenheit when away from home.
Most importantly, you want to make sure your system can handle it. If you find that your house never gets as cool as your thermostat setting, it may mean that your system is not sized for your home and you may need to relax the cooling. You may also want to check How well are your doors and windows sealed? and How well is your home insulated?.
An air conditioner can only really cool your home to 15 to 20 degrees cooler than the outside temperature, so setting your thermostat too low may prevent your system from operating efficiently.
Look at this: Simple ways to lower your utility bills and save money
Does it matter what type of HVAC you have?
Yes and no. Regardless of temperature, the same general temperature recommendations apply HVAC type “You have it at home,” Picard said.
However, your results may vary depending on the type and size of your system. A system that is too large or too small for your home will operate inefficiently, resulting in higher heating and cooling costs.
That’s why Picard recommends that you Have an HVAC professional inspect it And clean your system every year. These professionals can tell you how best to use your particular system for optimal comfort and efficiency, he said.
Avoid this common thermostat mistake
Let’s say your home is a lot colder than you’d like, and you want it to be perfect Now. The internal temperature might be 65 F, while you probably want it to be 70 F. Don’t set it to 75, hopefully that will warm it up faster. Most HVAC units have two settings – on or off – and temperatures don’t reach 70 degrees Fahrenheit that quickly anymore.
Set the thermostat to your desired temperature. Setting the temperature higher or lower than you actually want in an effort to speed things up will only result in overcooling or overheating and overspending on your energy bill.
Is your thermostat misplaced?
Your thermostat knows how to set the temperature because it has a thermometer inside it. So if your Wrong thermostat positionit won’t give you an accurate reading of the temperature in your home.
You want to avoid placing your thermostat in a place where the temperature or humidity changes frequently, such as a kitchen or bathroom. If it’s on an exterior wall, it may be more sensitive to changes in outdoor temperature.
Instead, try placing the thermostat on an interior wall in a location like your living room.
If you have a thermostat that supports external room sensors, installing sensors in other locations, such as your bedroom, can help you better regulate the temperature in the room you spend most of your time in.
Save money by setting your thermostat
Reduce your energy bills It’s not difficult this year.
“There’s a huge misconception that in order to be energy efficient, you have to be uncomfortable,” Pickard said.
Homeowners can also look beyond the thermostat. Invest in good insulationFor example, the stress you put on your HVAC system can be greatly reduced.
“You’d be surprised how much energy we blow out of the attic,” Pickard said.
Annual inspections and maintenance appointments can also help you save money. Picard says buildup within HVAC systems can lead to up to 10% efficiency loss each year, which you can see on your energy bill. That’s why annual cleaning is a good move.
If you’re in the market for a new HVAC system, now is a good time to take stock and make sure what you have is right for your particular home.
