If your thermostat says the heat is on but the house remains cold, it usually means your heating system is either failing to produce adequate heat or struggling to circulate and retain it.
If your heater is running but your house remains cold, your home is likely losing heat faster than your system can produce it. Common culprits include clogged air filters, poor attic insulation, drafts, or a mislocated thermostat reading the wrong temperature.
Maintain your thermostat at a minimum of 55°F (13°C) to protect your pipes. While water freezes at 32∘F (0∘C), keeping the ambient air at 55∘F ensures the temperature within your walls and near exterior-facing pipes stays safely above freezing.
To trick a standard thermostat into thinking it is warmer (which prompts an air conditioner to turn on or run longer), you need to introduce heat to the immediate area around the device. However, you should use caution to avoid damaging sensitive electronics.
Your house feels cold at 72 degrees mostly because your thermostat only measures air temperature, not the actual felt temperature. This discrepancy is driven by factors like humidity, radiant heat loss, and airflow.
The first signs of a bad thermostat depend on whether you are referring to your home HVAC system or your car’s engine.
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.
For most healthy adults, 68°F (20°C) is not considered too cold and is actually the standard indoor temperature recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy. It serves as a great sweet spot for balancing physical comfort with energy savings.
The "30-minute heating rule" is a highly efficient, money-saving thermostat strategy that involves turning your heating system on 30 minutes before you need a space warmed up, and turning it off 30 minutes before you no longer need it.
Reasons Why a Temperature Sensor May Fail
You only need to drip one or two faucets to prevent your pipes from freezing. Choose the faucets furthest from where your main water line enters the house and any located on exterior walls. If your home loses power or you have pipes in unheated areas (like a garage or crawl space), drip both the hot and cold handles.
Yes, pipes can freeze in as little as 3 hours. This usually happens to exposed, uninsulated, or exterior-wall pipes when outdoor temperatures drop to 20∘𝐹 or lower and they are left without ambient heat or water flow.
Pipes that freeze most frequently are: Pipes that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, and water sprinkler lines.
To quickly block cold air and drafts, seal gaps around baseboards and outlets with Great Stuff Insulating Foam. For larger wall surfaces, you can hang thick insulated thermal curtains, apply reflective radiant barriers like Reflectix Rolls, or install rigid foam boards.
In mild winter weather, a heat pump should typically run for 2 to 3 hours a day, cycling on and off in short intervals. However, in freezing temperatures (below 30°F), it is perfectly normal for the system to run constantly or nearly 24/7 to maintain a steady temperature.
Yes, a cold house can be bad for your health. According to the World Health Organization, living in cold indoor temperatures significantly increases the risk of respiratory infections, cardiovascular strain, and poor mental health.
How many hours should my heating be on a day? For most modern homes, Patrick Garner, Gas Safe Engineer at Heatable, tells us that having your heating on for 4-6 hours a day, "split between short boosts at the times you actually need warmth", is a good general rule.
In most homes, heating and cooling (HVAC) runs up your electric bill the most, accounting for about 40% to 50% of your total energy use.
No, October is generally not too early. HVAC professionals and energy experts usually recommend turning the heat on when your indoor temperature drops consistently below 65∘𝐹, or when it's just plain uncomfortable.
Your house likely feels cold at 69°F because of low humidity, poor wall insulation causing radiant heat loss, or uneven airflow. Dry indoor air accelerates moisture evaporation from your skin, making 69°F feel much chillier than the actual temperature.
For October, the ideal thermostat setting is 68∘F68 raised to the composed with power F𝟔𝟖∘𝐅 to 70∘F70 raised to the composed with power F𝟕𝟎∘𝐅 (20∘C20 raised to the composed with power C𝟐𝟎∘𝐂 to 21∘C21 raised to the composed with power C𝟐𝟏∘𝐂) while you are home and awake. For maximum energy efficiency and better sleep, drop the temperature to 60∘F60 raised to the composed with power F𝟔𝟎∘𝐅 to 65∘F65 raised to the composed with power F𝟔𝟓∘𝐅 (15∘C15 raised to the composed with power C𝟏𝟓∘𝐂 to 18∘C18 raised to the composed with power C𝟏𝟖∘𝐂) at night or when away.
A house is considered unsafe for people if indoor temperatures fall below 50∘F50 raised to the composed with power F50∘F (10∘C10 raised to the composed with power C10∘C) or exceed 90∘F90 raised to the composed with power F90∘F (32∘C32 raised to the composed with power C32∘C). These thresholds pose serious threats to human health and can also cause significant damage to the structure of your home.
You only need to drip one or two faucets. Prioritize the ones farthest from where the main water line enters your home, or those located on exterior walls. Open the cabinet doors underneath the sinks so warm room air can circulate to the pipes.
If the pipe is weak or has no space for expansion, it may burst within a few hours of freezing. In other cases, pipes may remain frozen for days before bursting when temperatures fluctuate. The worst-case scenario is a sudden temperature rise, causing a rapid thaw and an unexpected leak.
The most obvious signs of frozen pipes are a sudden drop in water pressure (or no water at all when you turn on a tap), visible frost or condensation on exposed piping, and strange clanking or gurgling sounds when water runs.