The U.S. government Department of Energy (DOE) states that people should set their thermostats to 68 degrees F. This is the optimal temperature for keeping a home comfortable. The DOE also informs us that a home's thermostat should be turned down below 68 degrees when a person goes to sleep.
Ideally you should heat your home to a temperature of at least 18 °C. This is particularly important if you have reduced mobility, are 65 or over, or have a health condition, such as heart or lung disease. Having room temperatures slightly over 18 °C could be good for your health.
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.
As a general rule, the recommended heater temperature at night is between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit. A thermostat setting of around 65 degrees is actually better for your health.
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.
The U.S. Department of Energy says an indoor temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night is best. Setting your thermostat to a lower temperature at night may actually help you sleep better. Medical experts know that our body temperature drops at night.
Setting the thermostat to around 18°C is ideal for a restful night's sleep, as this prevents overheating under the covers.
How Hot Is Too Hot? Different sources disagree on a maximum indoor temperature setting in winter. However, 72 degrees is the average recommendation. Setting the thermostat higher than the low 70s inevitably increases heat loss to the outdoors, raising heating bills substantially.
In short, the 20-degree rule of air conditioning states that you should always keep your AC unit at no more than 20 degrees lower than the outside temperature. It means that, if the outdoor conditions are at 95 degrees, you should set your thermostat at no less than 75 degrees.
The best room temperature for sleep is approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18.3 degrees Celsius). This may vary by a few degrees from person to person, but most doctors recommend keeping the thermostat set between 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 to 20 degrees Celsius) for the most comfortable sleep.
When the temperature actually drops, here are a few more steps to take. Keep your house heated to a minimum of 65 degrees. The temperature inside the walls where the pipes are located is substantially colder than the walls themselves. A temperature lower than 65 degrees might not keep the inside walls from freezing.
According to the experts at the Energy Saving 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.
To create that sleep-worthy environment, bedroom temperature should be kept at a consistent 17 degrees Celsius during the night, or at a minimum a few degrees colder than in the daytime.
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.
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.
60-67 degrees is the ideal temperature for winter nighttime for a comfortable night's sleep. If your house is too warm at night, it will affect your sleep and may result in causing fatigue. Since you'll be snuggled in blankets and covers, it makes it possible to make the house just a little chilly at night.
“Anything under 68 degrees overall is ideal for sleep. If you get too hot in the middle of the night, reduce layers of clothing or sheets, turn on fans, or drink a little cold water.”
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.
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.
The Bottom Line
Turning down your thermostat at night or while you're away is a proven way to save money on your heating bills. By reducing your home's rate of heat loss and running your furnace less often, thermostat setbacks are an easy and effective energy-saving strategy.
Tonight, before you head to bed, check your thermostat. Set it somewhere between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. People sleep better in that temperature range. “Not only in terms of maintaining sleep, but also of falling asleep,” says Alon Avidan, MD, MPH, director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center.
WHAT SHOULD I SET MY AC TO AT NIGHT? According to the Cleveland Clinic, the recommended thermostat setting for nighttime is between 60°F and 67°F. 3 Setting your AC within this range can help maintain a comfortable sleeping environment.
Turning your heating off overnight may seem like a good way to save energy and money. However, when you turn your heating back on in the morning, your system has to work harder to warm up the cold space, which can actually use more energy and lead to higher energy bills.
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.