Turn the heat down when you go to work or leave for vacation, as well. This way, you lower your home's energy usage without allowing the pipes to freeze. You can save up to several hundred dollars a year just by doing this, plus you don't have to spend money on expensive repairs due to freezing weather.
However, if no one is home for a long stretch of time – like a typical 8-hour workday – you should turn the heat off, or set it to a low temperature, to save money, experts advise. The idea that it costs more to heat your home back up after the temperature drops isn't true, says the Department of Energy (DOE).
You don't need to leave the furnace on all winter long to save money on your energy bills. In fact, you can save more money if you turn the heat off and on based on need.
It is cheaper to turn off the heat while you are gone. Re-heating from a lower temperature is more economical than maintaining a set temperature.
Although turning your heat on and completely off frequently can raise energy bills, you can actually save a lot of money by turning your heat down when you are not at home and keeping it at a reasonable temperature when you are.
You should never turn your heat completely off in the winter, as you'll risk sustaining plumbing damage and uncomfortable temperatures for your pets. Leaving your heat down has clear advantages, from saving money to a longer-lasting heating system. Reasons to leave the heat down include: Higher energy savings.
Instead, it is much more energy-efficient and cheaper to switch your boiler on only when you require warm water or heating with a normal heating system and thermostat, with most people choosing to either use a programmed timer or a smart thermostat that can be controlled from their mobile phone.
The main risks of turning off your furnace include: Frozen or burst pipes. Structural damage to your home from contraction and expansion. Health adversities from decreasing indoor temperatures.
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.
Unless your house is very well insulated, keeping your heating on low all day is usually unnecessary and will cause your heating bills to soar. Instead, set your heating to come on in the morning before you get up and turn it off half an hour before you leave for work.
To save energy, it will always be better to turn off your heating in your absence. However, depending on the dwelling, keeping a minimum temperature is advisable.
While there are occupants in the house, it is advised for homeowners to set their thermostats between 68 and 72 degrees to promote maximum comfort. A pleasant temperature for everyone in the house, regardless of the apparel they are wearing, is between 68 and 72 degrees, which is neither too warm nor too cool.
If you use a space heater in your home, please be aware that using a space heater can cause a significant increase in your monthly bill. A 1,000-watt space heater operating 12 hours a day will add about $40 to your monthly bill. If the cost does not deter you, remember how important it is to use space heaters safely.
It's More Advisable to Turn the Heat Down, Not Off
If you really want to save money and avoid the problems associated with turning off the heat at night, what you should do instead is just turn it down.
In sum, it's important to keep your thermostat at 65 degrees or warmer when it's cold out. The cold is more than just unpleasant, it can cause health problems overtime. Keeping your home warm will keep you and your family happy and healthy.
The World Health Organization recommends keeping indoor temperatures between 64 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit for healthy people. The minimum temperature should be kept above 68 degrees Fahrenheit to protect the very young, the elderly, or people with health problems. Watch out for signs of hypothermia.
Quick answer: The ideal house temperature is room temperature, which ranges from 68 to 78 degrees F, though this may vary from season to season. In winter, the average room temperature is generally 62 to 68 degrees, whereas in the summer, the average temperature is 72 to 78 degrees.
You should set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature for your needs. For most people, this is between 18°C and 21°C.
If the interior of your home gets too cold, you run the risk of burst water pipes when the water inside them freezes and expands. You can turn off the water or leave taps running to try to prevent this, but that leaves you without running water as well as no heat.
While leaving your heating on all the time will mean your boiler is constantly using energy to keep the temperature at a set level, with poor insulation it will have to work even harder to maintain this temperature. An inefficient boiler, which already uses a lot of energy to run, is only going to add to the problem.
The Main Benefits of Turning Off Your Heating System
When you use less energy, you can save tons of money on your home energy bills. Besides saving money on your energy bills, when you're not running your heating system, you're also keeping more of its life to use in the future.
Generally, it's useful to have your heating come on around half an hour before you get up in the morning. Then, have turn it off again around half an hour before you go to bed. If you're planning on being out of the house, you can turn the heating off while nobody's in.
Whatever the case, dropping your thermostat instead of turning it off completely can help significantly reduce your heating costs — in some cases by 10%. You'll also maximize your savings by ensuring your home is properly insulated and loses less heat.
Ideally you should heat your home to a temperature of at least 18 °C. This is particularly important if you have reduced mobility, are 65 or over, or have a health condition, such as heart or lung disease. Having room temperatures slightly over 18 °C could be good for your health.