Most recommend keeping your furnace between 68 and 70 degrees. You will find that after about a week at a lower temperature, your body becomes accustomed to it, and it no longer feels cold to you. You will also be surprised what some cozy sweaters, socks, and throws will do to keep you warm and comfortable.
The Department of Energy has researched thermostat settings for the best balance between indoor comfort, furnace efficiency, and lowest operating costs. The DOE recommends a temperature range from 68 degrees up to 72 degrees.
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.
If someone is at home in the daytime, 72° F (22° C) is a good start, but aim for 68° F (20° C). If everyone is away from home in the daytime or you're asleep at night, we feel 66° F (19° C) to 62° F (17° C) is best.
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.
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.
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.
One of the most common complaints among homeowners who possess a furnace is that their unit runs continuously. Unless you also have a heat pump (which can cause your unit to run frequently to maintain a set temperature during extremely cold weather), your furnace should cycle on and off at regular intervals.
The sleeping temperature recommended by every study I found differed, but most studies recommended setting your thermostat to about 65ºF (18.5ºC). Temperatures below 54ºF and above 75ºF have been shown to be disruptive to your sleep.
The Advantages of “Auto”
Lower Utility Bills — Since the blower only runs when heat is needed when your heater is set to “AUTO,” it requires less energy than if it were set to “ON.” This can lead to lower utility bills if you can put up with slightly cooler temperatures.
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.
The lower you set your flow temperature, the longer it will take to heat your home. It may take some trial and error to find the right flow temperature for your home. Innovation charity Nesta suggests a flow temperature of 60°C or slightly lower if your home is particularly well insulated.
Setting the thermostat below 72 degrees while using an air conditioner can cause the unit to work harder than necessary, leading to higher energy bills and potential damage to the appliance.
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.
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.
So, what temperature should the central heating thermostat be set at night if you're using electric radiators? Generally, the same range of 18°C to 20°C applies, as this is considered the most comfortable setting for most rooms.
What is a Good Temperature to Set Your Thermostat in the Summer? Every season has an ideal thermostat temperature and for summer the U.S. Department of Energy suggests that when home, 78 degrees is the sweet spot between staying cool and keeping your energy bill low.
Most recommend keeping your furnace between 68 and 70 degrees. You will find that after about a week at a lower temperature, your body becomes accustomed to it, and it no longer feels cold to you. You will also be surprised what some cozy sweaters, socks, and throws will do to keep you warm and comfortable.
During the frigid cold temperatures, set your thermostat on a permanent HOLD around 70 degrees until the weather warms back up to normal temperatures for this season. When temperatures drop below zero or even below freezing for extended periods of time, sometimes your furnace can't keep up.
It isn't bad to run your heating system on a 24/7 basis if outdoor weather conditions demand indoor warmth. For many households, maintaining a constant indoor temperature is the only way to survive the winter. Just be aware that this is likely to cause additional wear and tear on your heating system.
The issue could be as simple as an incorrectly set thermostat, so always double check the settings. A more serious problem is a miscalibrated thermostat (it's sensing the wrong temperatures and shutting the furnace off early) or one that has a bad connection to the control board in the HVAC system.
A temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit is often considered the best temperature to set thermostat in winter to save money.
What temperature should I have the heating on? The World Health Organisation recommends heating your home at 18C (64F) in the winter, while the Energy Saving Trust suggests anything between 18C and 21C (70F). But this varies for children, the elderly and clinically vulnerable.
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.