Keeping your home at a constant temperature generally means that your HVAC system will run constantly to meet it. This means that your furnace or air conditioner may run when you're asleep, at work, or out of the house. This wastes more energy than the minimal amount that you might save by having it constantly run.
Most of the time, maintaining a comfortable temperature all day in the winter will cost more money than raising it a few degrees when you get home. You don't have to shut it down altogether, but can set it to a low temperature like 58 or 60 degrees.
The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be. 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.
Changing Your Thermostat Settings Increases Wear
So if you're constantly tinkering with your thermostat, you're forcing those systems to cycle on and off, increasing usage and overall system stress. This can lead to more maintenance, repairs, and a quicker need for replacement.
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.
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.
68 to 72 degrees is a temperature range that is not too warm or cool, and is sufficient enough to warm up the home just enough so that everyone is comfortable regardless of the type of clothing they have on.
But as it turns out, the only real pro to keeping your thermostat one temperature is convenience. Sure, when you're away on vacation or gone for the weekend, the consistent temperature is efficient, but when you're at home, there are really no additional benefits.
Don't be tempted to turn your thermostat up or down to an extreme temperature. This won't help your system warm or cool your home any faster. In fact, this will just cause the system to run for much longer than necessary, giving it unnecessary wear and tear and causing it to use extra energy.
You just program it to turn the heat or air conditioning down in the mornings when you leave for work and back up when you get home. It saves time, energy, and money. In summary, DON'T constantly change the thermostat setting when you are home—it wastes money, energy, and leads to equipment breakdowns.
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.
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.
Recommended Temperature When the Home is Vacant
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).
When You Run Your AC All Day, Temperature Is Everything. Yes, we have said that it is usually cheaper to keep your air conditioner on all day, but this is only true if you have it set to the right temperature. This method works when you keep it at a higher temperature (albeit lower than however hot it is outside).
If the temperature is set to 74°F but the thermometer shows 78°F, you will have to recalibrate the thermostat to account for this 4-degree deviation. Even with older AC units or furnaces, you might have to recalibrate your thermostat from time to time.
Turn down your thermostat to 68 degrees. For every degree you lower your heat in the 60-degree to 70-degree range, you'll save an average of 3 percent on heating costs.
Setting your thermostat just a single digit higher can help you save 6 percent on your cooling costs, according to the EPA.
The World Health Organization recommends keeping indoor temperatures between 64 and 75 degrees for healthy people. But for those who are very young, elderly or who have health problems, the minimum temperature shouldn't dip below 68, the organization says.
One of the most common pieces of advice about reducing your energy bill is to keep your home at a consistent temperature. Many say that if you set your thermostat to a single, specific temperature, your HVAC system will use less energy.
How Low is Too Low to Set My Thermostat? If you're going to be leaving your home or traveling for the winter, it's best to keep your thermostat set no lower than 55 degrees. If you don't, you could risk having your pipes freeze over.
It says that keeping your heating on all day uses more fuel and so is more costly. Typically, the most energy-efficient approach is to use a central heating timer to make sure your home is heated when you need it.
If you're cold even though your thermostat indicates you shouldn't be, your furnace likely isn't the problem. In most cases, it's working just fine. It's your home that needs attention. Lack of insulation, severe air leakage, and/or unbalanced ductwork are frequently to blame.
Keeping your home warm in the winter is essential for one's comfort and also to keep pipes from freezing. However, you should be mindful of energy consumption as well. According to the Department of Energy, the optimal temperature setting for homes during freezing weather is 68 °F.
In interior spaces, if pipes are near cracks or openings that let in cold air, they may develop ice blockages even if they are in a heated space. To keep your pipes from freezing and bursting, make sure they are not exposed to temperatures approaching the alert threshold of 20 degrees.