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.
When leaving an empty house in winter, it's important to maintain a temperature that prevents pipes from freezing and protects the home's structure. A common recommendation is to set the thermostat between 55°F to 60°F (13°C to 16°C). Here are some additional tips:
Simply set it between 80 to 85 degrees. While your A/C works, make sure also all windows, doors, and blinds are adequately closed to keep the cool in.
Recommended Temperature When the Home is Vacant
If you are going on vacation, or even to work, it's wise to lower the temperature of the thermostat in order to save energy and money. For short periods of time away, like going to work, we'd recommend a temperature of around 55 – 60 degrees (F).
Experts generally recommend setting your air conditioner to 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you're away. This temperature is optimal for preventing excessive heat and humidity in your home without overworking your AC system.
Set your thermostat to at least 55°F/16°C if you leave your home for an extended period in the winter. In the summer, it's advisable to fix your air conditioning to maintain a temperature between 85°F and 90°F or 29°C and 32°C.
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.
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.
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.
Adjust your thermostat to at least 12.5°C for as long as your home is unoccupied. This will keep your system running and help prevent your pipes from freezing. Yet as it's a relatively low temperature, it shouldn't cost you too much in the way of fuel bills.
What temperature to leave a vacant house in summer while on vacation can range. Most experts suggest the best thermostat temperature settings in summer are above 85°F, which will still protect your belongings against extreme heat. Running the A/C will reduce humidity and lower the risk of mold growth.
While it may seem counterintuitive, leaving your AC on can lead to energy savings: Increase the temperature by 7-10 degrees when you're away. For absences longer than 8 hours, this can reduce energy costs by up to 10% Maintaining a consistent temperature is more efficient than cooling down a hot house.
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.
The general recommendation here is to not allow the house to go below 55 to avoid the possibility of pipes freezing.
If you're in the house, it needs to be around 18-20 degrees. Your breath + cold walls = condensation and mould. If you're not in the house, it's something like 14-15 degrees to protect the piping. Common mistake is people lower the tempt to reduce their heating bills then get tons of mould.
Don't turn your thermostat down below 65 degrees during extreme cold. Further drops in temperature could be enough to cause a problem, especially inside walls where pipes are located. Your heating bill may go up a little, but that's better than an expensive repair job if a pipe freezes and bursts.
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.
So, exactly how cold does it need to be before you do this? Southern Living says professionals list the threshold temperature for pipes to freeze at 20 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning this or anything below can create a potential for water to turn to ice in your pipes.
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.
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. You might be tempted by a few dollars more in energy savings, but it's simply not worth the risk of doing expensive damage throughout your entire home.
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.
Best AC Temperature Settings While You Are Home
As you consider the most comfortable room temperature for your lifestyle and family, keep in mind that for each degree that you set your thermostat above 72 degrees, you can save up to 3% on your energy bill.
For many of us, 70 degrees is the ideal indoor temperature, but when it is close to 100 degrees outside, your AC unit will be working quite hard to meet these expectations. Consider setting your thermostat at 75 degrees to 80 degrees in your home if the outside temperature is approaching triple digits.
For most people, 75 degrees is too hot to sleep, per the National Sleep Foundation. But the new study found that in people 65 and up, sleep efficiency only started to decrease when temperatures were above 77 degrees.