With winter temperatures at freezing and below, turning off the heat for 6 to 8 hours will likely cause the inside temperature of your home to drop below 60 degrees. Such low temperatures can be detrimental to sleep patterns for most people and can be dangerous to infants and the elderly.
The Energy Saving Trust also recommends leaving the heating on to some degree during winter even if you're away from home, to prevent frozen pipes which can cause hundreds of pounds of damage.
According to the experts at the Energy Savings Trust, the idea that you can save money by keeping your central heating permanently on low is a myth. This is mainly because of problems with home insulation. If your house is old or draughty, for example, heat will be leaking out through windows and doors.
A better idea: Turn the heat down, not off
Here's the secret: Set the temperature of your home at least eight degrees lower for the eight hours or so that you sleep at night. Every degree you lower the thermostat can net you an estimated 1% off your heating bill.
If you have central heating, use the thermostat to keep the temperature comfortable. We recommend between 18 and 22. If it's freezing outside, set the heating to stay on continuously, but turn the thermostat lower for the night. Remember, the higher the thermostat, the more fuel you use.
What Temperature is Too Cold for a House? While everyone has a different tolerance to cold, ideal winter heat settings should generally be at or above 63 °F (17 °C). Excessive cold (anything below 62 °F or 16 °C) in your home can actually raise your blood pressure as your blood “thickens” in the chilly temperatures.
According to Moody, this rule applies to all types of furnaces, and holds true even when the temperature outside is very cold. You should turn down the heat before you go to bed too. Besides saving energy, you'll also be more comfortable when you're sleeping.
According to experts at the Energy Saving Trust, the idea it's cheaper to leave the heating on low all day is a myth. They're clear that having the heating on only when you need it is, in the long run, the best way to save energy, and therefore money.
The reasons your house is cold even with the heat on could be because of poor insulation, your furnace not working properly, rooms with high ceilings, or your heating system doesn't cover the whole house. Each of these issues can prevent your home from properly heating.
While some homeowners have considered turning off their heat at night in an attempt to lower their heating bills, it generally is not recommended as a viable option. The fact is, turning your heat off at night creates more potential risk for your home and your family than it does savings on your energy bill.
ANSWER: Turning your heat on and off is not cost effective, since your system will have to work extra hard for extra long to get the temperature back up.
14-15° - If your home is this cold, you may be diminishing your resistance to respiratory diseases. 18° is the recommended night time bedroom temperature. 19-21° is the recommended daytime temperature range for occupied rooms. 24-27º is too warm and can put babies and young children at risk.
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.
How Warm Should Your House Be According to the UK Government. The UK government used to recommend a temperature of 21 degrees for living rooms and 18 degrees for bedrooms, but now they just recommend 18 degrees for the whole home.
As recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), UK households should have a room temperature in winter of around 18°C. The Energy Saving Trust advises that you should always set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature – to aid the battle with climate change – but should aim for around 18-21°C.
The Department of Energy estimates homeowners using programmable thermostats this way can save as much as 15% a year on heating and cooling by simply setting back the temperature by 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.
A safe temperature is accepted to be between 68 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit for people above the age of 65. The temperature inside your home should not reach below 68 degrees Fahrenheit in any case, as that increases the risk of respiratory disease and even hypothermia if there is prolonged exposure.
However, you can follow a few quick home heating rules to ensure your home stays at the ideal temperature this Winter: When Home: 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit. When Sleeping: 65 degrees Fahrenheit. When You're Away: 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
No, you can't get sick from being cold
"People are more inside in cold weather and kids are in close contact at school, plus we tend to stay inside while touching more surfaces that could have germs on them," Sindher says.
Being in a comfortable environment is essential for healthy sleep. Keeping your sleeping quarters at a temperature near 65°F (18.3°C), give or take a few degrees, is ideal. Your body's temperature decreases during sleep, and a cool, but not cold, room will help you settle into and maintain sleep throughout the night.
While the weather is not directly responsible for making people sick, the viruses that cause colds may spread more easily in lower temperatures, and exposure to cold and dry air may adversely impact the body's immune system.
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.