No, 74°F is widely considered an ideal, comfortable, and energy-efficient temperature for your thermostat. Whether it is "too high" depends entirely on whether you are trying to cool your home in the summer or heat it in the winter.
The Short Answer Is: Yes! Lowering a thermostat by one degree can save you money on your heating or cooling bills. The exact savings depend on factors like climate, insulation, and the efficiency of your HVAC system, but it's estimated to reduce energy costs by around 1-3% per degree for each 8-hour period.
Setting to 65 degrees in Winter and to 78 degrees in Summer while at home and switching to energy saving mode when away can help save energy.
It's generally recommended to set the thermostat to a temperature that you find comfortable; however, the World Health Organization recommends keeping room temperatures below 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 75.2 degrees Fahrenheit at night for health and comfort.
Whether 75 degrees is a "good" temperature depends on your personal comfort, as it is on the warmer side for winter. While it will keep you cozy, it will also lead to higher energy bills and can put extra strain on your heating system.
Set your thermostat to a minimum of 𝟓𝟓∘𝐅 (13∘C) to keep pipes from freezing when you are away. This ensures the air inside your walls remains above freezing, even if exterior temperatures drop sharply.
Humidity plays an important role in how warm or cold your home feels. Low humidity levels, common in winter, can make the air feel colder and drier, even when your home is adequately heated. Dry air absorbs moisture from your skin, which increases the sensation of being cold.
You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to around 68°F to 70°F while you're awake and setting it lower while you're asleep or away from home.
It takes time for your home to warm up and cool down. If you're not sure how long it takes, try turning the heating on about 30 minutes before you need it. You should turn it off 30 minutes before you'll stop needing it.
You should turn your thermostat down by 7∘F7 raised to the composed with power F𝟕∘𝐅 to 10∘F10 raised to the composed with power F𝟏𝟎∘𝐅 for 8 hours at night compared to your daytime setting. Doing so can typically save you about 10% on your annual heating and cooling bills.
Because they do not use standard grid electricity or conventional electric and gas furnaces, the Amish heat their homes using off-grid, self-reliant methods. The most common systems include wood- or coal-burning stoves, propane and kerosene heaters, and natural airflow home designs.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the best AC temperature for saving energy is 75–78°F (25.5°C) when you're at home and need cooling. Increase the temperature by about 7°F when no one is home to significantly reduce energy consumption.
Many Amish homes are built with plenty of windows to help circulate the air and bring in the cooler overnight temperatures. They open the windows on the top floors to help the heat escape while the family retreats to the lower grounds within their homes for comfort.
How cool should my house be if it's 100 outside? Your AC can typically cool about 20°F below the outdoor temperature, so if it's 100°F outside, maintaining 78–80°F indoors is reasonable.
The 3-minute rule is a simple but important guideline: wait at least three minutes after turning your air conditioner off before turning it back on. That short pause gives the refrigerant pressure in the system time to equalize.
Known for his practical tips, Lewis introduced the '4pm rule' which involves using curtains strategically to retain heat. He suggests opening curtains when the sun rises at around 8:30am to let in natural warmth, and closing them by 4pm to keep the heat inside.
"Keeping your system around 62°F to 65°F overnight is a safe, comfortable range. You never want to go below 60°F for long periods in cold climates because that's when pipes can start freezing, especially along exterior walls or in crawlspaces," explains Brianna Ford, HVAC contractor and owner of All In Heating & Air.
Thermostat tinkering
Adjusting your thermostat just a few degrees can increase your heating bill by more than 10%. Changing to a programmable thermostat can make a huge difference and save you money by allowing you to automatically manage your heating needs so you don't use energy when you don't need to.
Heating and cooling (HVAC) systems are the biggest energy consumers in a typical house, accounting for roughly 45−50% of your total electricity usage. Water heaters, refrigerators, and lighting round out the rest of the major draws.
For most customers, we recommend turning on your furnace when the weather is consistently below 18° Celsius, which usually happens to be around the end of September, or early October. Some homeowners try to put off turning on their furnace as long as they can to save money, which is okay if you're healthy adults.
5 Heating Options to Consider for Maximum Efficiency
Generally, you'll want to set this somewhere between 18°C and 21°C, and this will make sure the heating doesn't come on until you need it to. It also makes sure you're not overheating your home over the winter.
No, 68°F is not generally considered cold for a house in winter. In fact, experts at the U.S. Department of Energy recommend 68°F as the ideal, energy-efficient temperature for the winter months while you are awake.