The best approach is to set your vacation thermostat about 10 degrees higher (summer) or lower (winter) than you normally set it when away from home. This lowers the amount of time your HVAC system is running while you are away. In general, don't set it above 85° in the summer or below 50° in the winter.
When preparing your home for winter if you plan to be away, the best thermostat settings are between 55 and 60°F. If your winters are mild and freezing pipes are not as much of a concern, you can go lower to 45°F to potentially save money.
When you go out of town, it's generally recommended to set your thermostat between 50°F and 60°F (10°C to 15.5°C) in winter and around 78°F (25.5°C) in summer. This range helps to prevent issues like frozen pipes in cold weather and excessive humidity or heat damage in warm weather.
In winter, condensation can be a damage factor in homes that are too cold -- not to mention frozen plumbing pipes. So no matter how long you'll be away, the setting that's best for home maintenance is 85 degrees in the summer and 50 degrees in the winter.
During heat waves, experts, including utility companies, recommend keeping your thermostat no more than 20 degrees cooler than the outdoor temperature. For instance, if it's 100 degrees outside, aim to set your thermostat to at least 80 degrees.
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'll be away or on vacation for more than a few days, there are several things that you can do to minimize your household's energy use: Check the stat. Before you leave, set your thermostat between 82-85 degrees, but don't turn off your AC system completely.
Your pipes are at risk of freezing any time temperatures drop below 32°F. However, it's much more common for pipes to freeze when temperatures dip below 20°F. The longer the weather remains below freezing, the more likely it is your pipes can freeze if not properly protected and winterized.
What is the ideal temperature for a house? The ideal temperature for a house depends on the season. In the summer, it's around 72 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit; in the winter, it's around 62 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
Most comfort specialists agree that setting your thermostat between 80 to 85 degrees F while on extended vacation is an ideal range for striking the right balance between cost savings and your home's protection.
Our best recommendation is to shut your heating system off when the temperature outside stays at a consistent 50° Fahrenheit. While this might sound a little cold, it will actually take a couple of days until the temperature inside your home drops back down to that level.
However, there's one easy way to slash your bills: set your thermostat to the best temperature for the appropriate amount of time. To save money on heating, the Department of Energy recommends turning your thermostat from 68°F to 70°F while you're awake and even lower when you're sleeping or away from home.
Bear in mind, you don't have to keep your heating at a high-temperature setting while you are gone. Turn your thermostat down between 15°C and 18°C degrees to maintain the warmth of your home at a cost-efficient level.
How do you keep a disaster like that from happening? 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.
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.
Keep the Heat On
The ideal temperature would be around 55 to 60 degrees. This will be warm enough to keep pipes from freezing.
The rule of the thumb is that it takes roughly 6-hours for water in your pipe to freeze after left in an unheated area. Meaning if you lose power at your home and the weather is reaching below freezing point, you have approximately 6-hours until the pipes will begin to freeze.
You do not have to be kept as high as you normally would keep it if you were actually present; keeping it above 10 C is best. This should provide enough heat to keep the pipes warm and to prevent any water inside from freezing. Be sure to keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night.
The best approach is to set your vacation thermostat about 10 degrees higher (summer) or lower (winter) than you normally set it when away from home. This lowers the amount of time your HVAC system is running while you are away. In general, don't set it above 85° in the summer or below 50° in the winter.
Setting your air conditioning to 72°F is generally considered a comfortable indoor temperature for many people. It strikes a good balance between comfort and energy efficiency, making it a popular choice for residential settings.
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.
To keep the house safe and avoid frozen pipes in the winter, the thermostat should be at 55 degrees while during the summer a temperature of 85 degrees protects it from high heat and humidity. If you're out of town during winter or summer, have someone adjust your thermostat for you to ensure your house is protected.
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.
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.