What Temperature Should Your Heat Be Set At?
The cold weather of winter always has homeowners anticipating what their energy bills are going to look like. When you think about the “ideal” temperature for a household in the winter, it is important to consider the fact that a typical household is usually filled with different family members, each with their own (often differing) temperature preferences. So, what temperature should your heat be set at?
The ultimate goal is to make sure everyone is comfortable. But even still, many of us are cost-conscious and wonder how our temperature settings will impact the rate at which we are burning fuel oil.
In this article, we are going to talk about the “ideal” temperature to keep your home thermostat set to during the winter. We will also talk about different technologies and cost-saving tips that can help you keep your energy bills down in the winter.
What is the ideal temperature for a house in winter?
According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s recommendation, the ideal temperature for homes during the wintertime is 68 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is cozy enough to keep the household warm but cool enough to appease those always-sweating and refuse-to-put-on-a-sweater family members.
Technically speaking, warming your home to a temperature above 70 degrees with set you up for an heat loss. The question becomes – what amount of heat loss are you willing to accept for the sake of comfort?
Heat loss is the measure of negative heat transfer through a home from the inside to the outside. It can be caused by convection, conduction, radiation, mass transfer, or a combination of those factors.
Generally speaking, the colder the temperature outside + the warmer the temperature inside + the worse the thermal insulation of the home is = the greater the heat loss will be.
This is why it is so critically important to ensure your home is well-insulated. If you’re wondering where to look first, keep the following figures in mind. It has been estimated that the proportionate heat loss from a badly insulated house is up to:
- 25% through the roof
- 35% through outside walls
- 25% through doors and windows
- 15% through ground floors
How Can I Reduce Heating Costs in the Winter?
There are several ways you can significantly impact your energy usage during the winter. If you want to reduce your heating costs, consider these tips below.
1. Turn the Thermostat Down At Night
According to The U.S. Department of Energy, you can save as much as 10% a year on heating by simply turning your thermostat back 7-10 degrees for 8 hours a day from its normal setting. It is easy to capitalize on that energy savings during the 8 hours that you are asleep each night. Plus, scientists say that for optimal sleeping conditions, your room temperature should be between 60 and 67 degrees anyways. Good for your wallet and good for your health.
2. Turn the Thermostat Down When You Are Not Home
Add to your energy savings by lowering your thermostat while you are at work too. Even if you are gone for only a few hours during the day running errands, bringing the thermostat down can help. When planning to head out of town or on an extended vacation, don’t leave the house without turning your thermostat down. It (literally) does not pay to heat a home you’re not present in.
3. Never Shut the Heat Off Completely
Many cost-conscious homeowners default to simply turning the heat off to save on their energy bill. We see this happen most frequently when homeowners are heading out of town or leaving for vacation. This is a misconception. Turning your heat off during winter puts you at risk for frozen pipes, which can lead to a whole slew of damage and additional costs. Leave your thermostat between 58 to 62 degrees when you are gone – this will help you save on your energy bill while also protecting the integrity of the water in your pipes.
4. Use a Programmable Thermostat
If you are serious about saving on your energy bill, a “smart” thermostat is a great idea. Programmable thermostats like Nest allow you to pre-schedule your home’s ideal temperature settings for each part of your day and night. Some even learn your habits and build a schedule for you. For example, it may learn that you like to sleep at 68 degrees but need the house warmed up to 72 degrees by 9am. Utilizing technology like this will definitely maximize your energy savings.
5. Double Check Your Insulation & Plug Thermal Escapes
Like we mentioned before, heat loss can be a real problem in the cold weather for homes that are poorly insulated. Rather than cranking up the thermostat, take a look around your home. Look for cracks, crevices, and gaps that cause drafts throughout the house. We see this most often in doorways, windows, basements, attics, and chimneys. It is relatively inexpensive to seal these gaps but the savings could be substantial.
6. Keep Your Blinds & Shades Open During the Day
Don’t forget about sunlight! Even in the coldest of weather, sunlight gleaming into your home can have a huge impact to help heat your home naturally. As soon as you wake up in the morning, pull your blinds up and open your curtains to let the sun shine in. You will be surprised at how much more warmth you naturally feel in sun-flooded rooms if your home. When the sun goes down at night, close your curtains and blinds back up. This will help preserve the natural heat captured throughout the day in the room by adding another layer of insulation at no additional cost to you.
7. Seal Your Chimney Flue
Often when we suggest insulation checks, we find that people forget to check the chimney flue. An open or unsealed chimney is just as conducive to heat loss as a cracked window that is open 24/7. Don’t forget to close your chimney flue when your fireplace isn’t in use.
8. Keep Some Humidity in the Air
Did you know that humid air retains heat more efficiently than dry air? This means that during the winter, an appropriate amount of indoor humidity can make your home feel a lot more comfortable and reduce your need to turn up the thermostat. Humidifiers also offer some great health benefits like preventing dry eyes, sore throats, dry nasal passages, dry skin, and so on.
Reduce Home Heating Costs
Winters in New York can be brutally cold. Excessively high fuel oil costs don’t help! That is why Star Home Heat is proud to offer our network of discounted fuel dealers. Search your zip code to find reliable, top-notch fuel oil providers in your area.