What Is The Best Temperature To Keep Your House In The Winter?
Recommendations from the majority of HVAC experts tell us that the thermostat that controls your home comfort should be set somewhere between 72° F and 66° F. This depends on the time of day or night and whether anyone is occupying the home during this period.
Nevertheless, most people set the thermostat according to the type of clothing they are wearing and their body temperature. Furthermore, factors such as these affect the overall cost of heating the home.
Heating Tips: What Temperature Should I Set My Thermostat In Winter?
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The ideal winter thermostat setting varies with each individual, and there is a wide range of factors influencing what makes up the perfect temperature. Following is more information on this matter.
Experiment With Different Thermostat Settings To Determine What Works For You
ASHRAE recently conducted a series of psychological studies of people that have been conditioned to believe that 72° F is the ideal room temperature. What they found in one of these studies was that participants were equally comfortable with the thermostat set at either 68° F or 72° F. Consequently, they were unable to tell the difference between the two settings.
If you would like to conduct a similar study of your own ideal winter temperature comfort level, this can help. Starting with 72° F as a reference point, begin setting the thermostat a few degrees lower. This will help determine the ideal winter temperature comfort level in your own home. During this experiment, you will discover the ideal temperature range to maintain in your house during the winter.
Now is the time to let you know that The US Department of Energy says it is possible to reduce the cost of heating your home by as much as 15% just by setting the thermostat 10° to 15° F lower in the winter for 8 hours each day. The best time to take advantage of this is when you are sleeping or when the house is unoccupied during the day. If you have trouble remembering to set the thermostat to take advantage of these savings, install a programmable or smart thermostat to do it for you automatically.
Dealing With Heat Loss and Monitoring Humidity Levels
To reduce the amount of heat lost through the home’s envelope, be sure that conditioned air is not leaking out.
Small cracks and openings are notorious thieves of conditioned air. To prevent drafts of cold air from getting in and heated air from leaking out, seal up those cracks. This will help lower your heating costs.
What is more important is that these measures will help you to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures throughout the winter. It will also help to prevent the growth of mold which will improve the indoor air quality. Also, remember to close window treatments and curtains at night.
Along with cold drafts and air leaks, humidity levels have an impact on ideal winter temperature levels in the home. According to the DOE, the ideal humidity levels fall somewhere between 25% and 40%.
Don’t forget, humid air is capable of holding more heat. For that reason, when the air is too dry, the air feels colder. Consequently, you may turn up the thermostat and the heating system must work more to keep your home at the ideal temperature. Doing so leads to increased heating costs. Plus, dry air can cause sinus troubles.
Instead, invest in a whole-house humidifier or place as a portable model in your home to add moisture to the air. Doing so will allow to turn down the thermostat, lowering your home heating costs.
Conclusion
Contrary to popular opinion, 72° F isn’t the most ideal temperature to keep your thermostat at. What is true is that the perfect winter temperature is the one that helps you stay warm and comfortable. Even though it may reduce heating costs by setting the thermostat a few degrees lower, that choice may not help improve the comfort you feel in your home. At the same time, there are things you can do to lower the heating bills that will do nothing to compromise indoor comfort levels.
The NATE certified HVAC technicians on staff at McAllister Energy can be trusted to service your heating system correctly.
You can depend on McAllister Energy for top-rated HVAC installations, repairs, replacements, and tune-ups. Our technicians are experts in the field with the experience, skills, and tools to provide you with practical service at affordable prices. It is our goal to improve your comfort and increase your home’s energy efficiency while reducing heating costs. Give McAllister Energy a call to schedule a free, in-home estimate.
Contact McAllister Energy today, and we will be happy to assist you. Click here to contact us or you can call us at (856) 665-4545 to find out more!