According to former state architectural historian and author Jim Garvin, the main culprit when it comes to unheated spaces getting damaged is rapid changes in the humidity and/or temperature. When wood contracts and expands quickly, film finishes often develop permanent fine cracks.
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.
According to research, the room temp should never drop below 65 degrees.
Any spaces where people spend less, such as corridors, laundry rooms and lofts, can be cooler than normal living spaces. Aiming for temperatures between 15 to 18°C could also help you save on your heating bills.
If heat is flowing to the room, this room may have insulation issues that are causing heat to escape. If heat isn't flowing to the room at all when your heat is on, there may be leaks in your ductwork or an issue with your furnace, boiler, or home heating system.
The Risks of A Cold Living Environment
Prolonged exposure can aggravate existing conditions, such as asthma and arthritis, and can even create new problems within the body over time. Health conditions that can be worsened or caused by a cold living environment can include: Asthma. Worsening Pulmonary Conditions.
Sleeping too cold
Drerup. Blood vessels become constricted, breathing becomes shallow and it puts extra pressure on our cardiovascular system to get our body temperatures regulated again, she adds. If your bedroom temperature is lower than 60° F, it's too cold.
Safe range means a set variation where there's minimal risk. If the room temperature is below 68 degrees Fahrenheit or above 74 degrees Fahrenheit, their health is at risk because the temperatures will be outside the safe range.
According to the World Health Organisation and the UK Government guidelines, 18°C is the minimum temperature any room should be to ensure good health.
In general, it's recommended to set your thermostat to 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. This may seem high compared to the freezing point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but it'll help keep the interior of the floor and wall cavities – where your plumbing is often located – safely above freezing temperatures.
Cold homes contribute to excess winter mortality and morbidity. Most of the health burden can be attributed to both respiratory and cardiovascular disease, especially for older people. In children, the excess winter health burden is mostly due to respiratory disease.
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.
As far as the normal hours of the day when everyone is awake and active in the home, we do recommend the WHO's guideline of 64 degrees (F) as a minimum. Being in a house for long periods of time that is constantly chilly can have negative health effects.
From damp, mould, frozen pipes and – in some of the worst cases – health problems, these are the issues that could occur if you neglect to heat your home.
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.
A room temperature of 18 – 22 ° C and a relative humidity of 40% – 60% is perceived by most people as pleasant and it is also ideal for the fabric of the building. Check the values in the living room and bedrooms regularly to reduce the risk of mould.
The WHO's 2018 guidelines give a strong recommendation that a minimum of 18 °C (64 °F) is a "safe and well-balanced indoor temperature to protect the health of general populations during cold seasons".
The World Health Organization recommends a thermostat setting no lower than 68 degrees while you're home. If you have children or seniors in your house, that number increases to at least 70 degrees. If your house is too cold, it can cause problems with blood pressure and circulation, as well as affect your heart rate.
The best way to avoid damp and mould is by keeping your room temperature and humidity at the optimum levels. Try to maintain a consistent room temperature of around 20 °C, and avoid letting it drop below 16 °C. The humidity should be between 30 and 60%, any higher and there is too much moisture in the air.
While some research supports sleeping in a cold bedroom, other research supports a slightly warmer sleep environment. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum temperature of 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius), and the European standard recommends 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius).
Studies have shown that room temperature in the bedroom should be between 15.5 and 20° Celsius (60-68° Fahrenheit).
“Looking at the available research, most studies agree that a temperature between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit is optimal for sleeping, with temperatures above 75 degrees and below 54 degrees disruptive to sleep.