Fall and winter bring colder weather, and with it, changes in how you set and maintain your thermostat. While warmer months require higher settings to save energy and stay comfortable, the cooler temperatures associated with the fall have a different set of needs. What is the best temperature to set your thermostat?

The answer to this simple question has several parts. To find the best setting, a homeowner must address what they feel the best temperature is for comfort and how to make sure that the setting chosen is efficient and cost-effective. And yes, it is important to know how to set thermostat.

What Are The Best Thermostat Settings for Fall?

The US Department of Energy uses 68 degrees Fahrenheit as a general recommendation for thermostat settings during the day in cooler weather while you are home and active in your house. In 2006, the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory found that 71 degrees was the optimal temperature for people for office workers.

Most people, when they are home, are able to wear comfortable, warmer clothing. They are also able to be slightly more active than they would be in an office setting. This allows a slightly lower temperature for a household thermostat. The important thing to remember with this guideline is that it is for homeowners when they are active in their home.

General Recommended Thermostat Settings

There are many hours of the day when a house is either unoccupied, or the occupants are sleeping. If a homeowner works during the day, it is very likely that the house is unoccupied for more than 8 hours. At least 6 hours of the day can be attributed to when homeowners are asleep. These periods of time are great opportunities to lower your thermostat temperature and save money. Setting your thermostat up to ten degrees lower can save anywhere from 15-20 percent on your energy bills each year. Using a programmable thermostat is an inexpensive way to manage these settings without having to make the changes manually each day. Your thermostat can lower the temperature after you leave in the morning, but have the house warm when you return. At night, when you are asleep, it will lower temperatures as needed and warm them before you wake. Most quality programmable thermostats can create a separate schedule for weekends.

The experts at SSI can help you update your thermostat so that your home operates at peak efficiency during the fall and upcoming winter. Follow these tips and stay comfortable while saving money this year.

What Temperature Should I Set My Thermostat In Winter?

This is a typical question that many homeowners across the country will have, as the winter season begins to kick in. Winter months can get cold, especially on the east side of the United States. Families sometimes tend to set their thermostats at high temperatures, as it can indeed get very cold. However, that is not always necessary to keep your home warm and comfortable. To answer this question more specifically, we suggest that you set your thermostats at 72° F (22° C) during the day, as a general rule of thumb. However, the desired temperature can vary from household to household.

Best Temperature To Set Thermostat In Winter

So, what exactly is the best temperature to set your thermostat for this winter season? It is difficult to give one specific temperature to answer this question, as there are various things that you can do that will make sure to keep your house warm. As previously mentioned, the desired home temperature that families will want also varies from household to household. We are going to give you some tips on the best thermostat settings to keep your home warm and cozy, while simultaneously making sure that you save on your utility bills.

Recommended thermostat temperature during the day: What temperature should you set your thermostat during the day time? This really depends on whether or not you are home. If you are home, you could set the temperature at about 72° F (22° C),  as previously mentioned. What about when you are not home, however? If you are not home and want to make sure that your house is warm when you come back, then you could try setting your thermostat temperature at 68° F (20° C).

Recommended thermostat temperature during the night: Although temperatures can drop incredibly low during the night time, it is best to set your thermostat settings at an energy-efficient temperature, that can ensure reasonable warmth. Taking this into consideration, we generally suggest setting your thermostat at 68° F – 62° F, that being around 20°C – 17°C. You generally want to maintain a warm enough temperature in your home that will make you feel comfortable during the night.

If you are looking to upgrade your heating system, contact us or give us a call at (703) 968-0606. You can trust our experts to answer any questions that you may have!