When the thermostat reads warm but the air feels cold, a number of issues could be at play. Your house could be cold due to an old air filter, a faulty furnace, improper insulation, or leaky ductwork.
If your comfort is most important to you, then absolutely set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature (usually between 70-74), and leave it there while you are home and awake.
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.
Drier air indoors speeds up evaporation over your skin making it feel colder relative to same temperature air but with greater humidity.
With all that said, as a general rule of thumb, the ideal temperature for the elderly in a living room is 21°C, or 70°F, and above, and it's a minimum of 18°C, or 64°F, in the bedroom. Bathrooms, meanwhile, should be between 22°C and 24°C, or 71°F and 75°F.
What Is the Ideal Room Temperature for an Elderly Person? Research has shown that the average and safe room temperature for older adults is around 78 degrees. To prevent an elderly adult from becoming too cold, it is recommended that the room temperature never falls below 65 degrees.
Is 74 too hot for a house? It is OK to set your thermostat to 74°F if you're happy with that temperature. However, many people find temperatures between 68°F–72°F more comfortable for everyday living. If efficiency is a concern, you might want to consider lowering the temperature by a few degrees to save energy.
One of the most common causes of a cold home despite a correctly set thermostat is poor insulation. Insulation plays a crucial role in maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home, as it helps to keep warm air inside during the winter and cool air inside during the summer.
Quick answer: The ideal house temperature is room temperature, which ranges from 68 to 78 degrees F, though this may vary from season to season. In winter, the average room temperature is generally 62 to 68 degrees, whereas in the summer, the average temperature is 72 to 78 degrees.
The causes of cold intolerance are clustered around problems involving the circulatory system, nervous system, and endocrine (hormonal) system. Often, multiple causes are involved. Even certain medications or the lack of sleep can trigger intolerance to cold.
Single-pane windows and poorly sealed doors can allow heat to escape, making your home feel colder than it should. Upgrading to double-pane windows and ensuring that doors are properly sealed can make a significant difference in heat retention.
Studies show that older adults tend to have slightly lower body temperatures than younger adults. Over time, your body is less able to regulate its own temperature. The fat layer under your skin may thin as you age, making you less able to conserve body heat.
This Is the Ideal Room Temperature for an Elderly Person
Many seniors find 78 degrees to be the most comfortable indoor temperature. Anywhere from 65 to 78 degrees is considered safe.
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).
Since 72 degrees is generally agreed upon to be an ideal indoor temperature, most people would probably still feel comfortable setting their AC units slightly higher than this, perhaps at around 75.
Your house and attic insulation can wear down over time. Your house also may have hidden attics that aren't properly insulated or uninsulated garage walls that are attached to your home, and this can cause problems with heat escape, unwanted airflow, and drafts. Your ductwork has problems.
The World Health Organization recommends a thermostat setting no lower than 68 degrees while you're home. If you have children or seniors in your house, that number increases to at least 70 degrees. If your house is too cold, it can cause problems with blood pressure and circulation, as well as affect your heart rate.
If the temperature is set to 74°F but the thermometer shows 78°F, you will have to recalibrate the thermostat to account for this 4-degree deviation. Even with older AC units or furnaces, you might have to recalibrate your thermostat from time to time.
“The consensus among most scientists is that anything higher than 75 or 80 is bad for sleep and potentially detrimental to health,” Baniassadi said. Heat affects sleep because the body signals the brain that it's time to fall asleep by lowering its core temperature.
Absolutely. While it may seem like a small part of your HVAC system, the thermostat plays a crucial role in ensuring your home stays cool and comfortable.
Some of the most common thermostat issues include:
The thermostat is broken, not properly level, or dusty. The thermostat needs to be recalibrated. There is loose wiring causing a thermostat issue.
Rooms Are Cold Even With Heating On
It could be due to blocked vents, a failing HVAC fan, or issues with the furnace itself. Ensure that furniture or drapes are not blocking your vents. Also, check if your furnace's filter is clean, as a dirty filter can restrict airflow.
The Ideal AC Temperature
Between 74-77 degrees F (23-25 degrees C). This will limit the strain on your cooling system, keep energy bills reasonable, and help prevent the coils from freezing.
Room temperatures above 74 (and below 55) may negatively impact your quality of sleep. So with temperatures climbing higher, how can we manage our environments and bodies enough to get that REM sleep we need to stay functional? An air conditioner, sure!