However, turning your heat too low or off completely can leave you with a bigger issue than a high energy bill – burst pipes and damaged property. And if you're not home when a loss occurs and the damage isn't addressed immediately, you could be dealing with a serious issue.
Don't leave a vacant house unheated in the winter. You know how houses deteriorate rapidly after being abandoned? It's because without heat, moisture collects, mold and other fungus sets in, wood expands, studs and joists begin to warp, accelerated by freeze-thaw cycles.
When leaving an empty house in winter, it's important to maintain a temperature that prevents pipes from freezing and protects the home's structure. A common recommendation is to set the thermostat between 55°F to 60°F (13°C to 16°C). Here are some additional tips:
For short periods of time away, like going to work, we'd recommend a temperature of around 55 – 60 degrees (F). While away on long periods of time, such as vacation, we don't recommend setting the temperature any lower than 50 degrees (F).
Answer: Pipes are vulnerable to freezing when exposed to extremely low temperatures, especially if they lack insulation or are located in unheated areas like attics, crawl spaces, or outside walls. Homes with inadequate heating during freezing weather are also at risk.
Generally, a house will stay warm for 8–12 hours after losing heat. However, without intervention, it will eventually reach outdoor temperatures. If temperatures are frigid outside, maximize the warmth by gathering the family in a small room, wearing many thin layers, and placing towels around windows and doors.
As a general rule, the “temperature alert threshold” for freezing pipes is about 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
It's advisable to keep your home below 80 degrees throughout the summer. A house that's too warm can be dangerous to people, pets, and the soft surfaces in your home. Set the winter temperature to 68 degrees when you're awake and 62 degrees when you're sleeping.
How cold can a house get without heat overnight? The time of day your heater goes out impacts how long the house stays warm. Indoor temperatures go down faster at night, so if your furnace stops overnight, you can expect a quicker decline. This can be as much as 15 degrees Fahrenheit before morning.
There may be drafts and pockets of colder air near the floor; The walls are colder and don't emit the usual amount of infrared radiation, so you lose heat due to your body emitting more IR than it receives; You may spend more time indoors and hence have less physical activity, so your body generates less heat.
Regardless of how long you will be traveling and away from home, keep your thermostat set at 68 degrees Fahrenheit or above. This will help to keep the pipes on the inside of the home from freezing and the ones under the home at a slightly higher temperature as well.
Thermostat settings play a pivotal role in managing your heating system's efficiency. It's a common misconception that leaving your heating on at a constant temperature is more energy-efficient than turning it on and off. Does turning the heat on and off raise the bill each month? The answer is no.
The ideal thermostat temperature in the winter is 68 degrees Fahrenheit when you're at home. Energy.gov suggests that 68 degrees is a good room temperature while you're awake at home but recommends lowering it while you're asleep or away.
It is easier for viruses to spread because we're more likely to meet up indoors with the windows shut and no fresh air to blow viruses away. Cold also makes it easier for viruses to survive outside the body and cold air contains less virus-trapping moisture.
If you fail to take reasonable measures to keep your home heated in the winter, not only could you suffer from burst pipes and water damage, you could also face coverage exclusions in your homeowners policy.
Your home will shield you from the wind and precipitation, but no matter how well-insulated it is, it will eventually become as cold as outside. That's because the house transfers heat to the outdoors through conduction, convection, and radiation until it reaches equilibrium with the outside temperature.
Plaster on walls can crumble, and paint or wallpaper can peel. Wooden window frames will start to rot, and even electrical equipment can be damaged as the water causes corrosion on components. Good ventilation in a property helps to reduce the amount of moisture trapped in the air.
For short periods of time away, like going to work, we'd recommend a temperature of around 55 – 60 degrees (F). While away on long periods of time, such as vacation, we don't recommend setting the temperature any lower than 50 degrees (F).
The best winter thermostat setting is 62 to 68 degrees. On winter days, program your home's thermostat to 68 degrees for a comfortable indoor temperature while you're home and awake. When sleeping, program your thermostat to 62 degrees. Consider rolling this temperature back to 55 degrees when no one is home.
But don't take it from us, take it from the World Health Organization: They recommend a temperature of at least 64°… and raising that to at least 70° if there are babies, elderly people, or otherwise immunocompromised people in the home.
What Temperature Will Cause My Pipes to Freeze? Pipes run the risk of freezing at temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, especially if they're not insulated, but most insulated pipes start to freeze at 20 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
To save money, aim to have your temperature set around 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit when you're at home and awake. This is a comfortable temperature for most with the help of a light sweater. Overnight and when you're out, around 64 degrees Fahrenheit will keep your home at a good temperature.
Yes, pipes can freeze overnight if temperatures plummet drastically. Uninsulated pipes in unheated areas like attics or exterior walls are most vulnerable.