As homeowners battle the frigid temperatures this winter and try to keep their homes comfortable and warm, many will wonder how to save on heating costs. One of the best ways to save is to manage your thermostat settings more carefully. Below, we’ll be discussing the ideal thermostat settings you can use to maintain home comfort while maximizing efficiency and savings.
Why Your Thermostat Setting Matters
Many homeowners don’t realize just how much their thermostat setting matters. For every degree you reduce your interior temperature, you save an estimated 1-3% of your total heating costs! Since most people can stand lowering their heat by a few degrees, a few simple changes could save you hundreds every year.
What to Set Your Thermostat to During the Day and Night
Most homeowners find that around 70 degrees is a comfortable temperature during the day. Dropping that to 68 will keep most people reasonably comfortable and can save up to 6% on your utility bills. Wearing socks and warm clothing can help keep you comfortable despite the slight drop in temperature.
At night, most homeowners prefer to sleep in cooler temperatures anyway, so setting your thermostat to 65 is usually advisable. Some people prefer to sleep in temperatures down to around 60 and just bundle up with blankets. This, of course, offers even more savings.
What to Set it at if You’re Not in the House
When you leave your house and leave your thermostat set just as high as when you’re home, you’re wasting precious energy that doesn’t even offer comfort to you or your family. Setting your thermostat to 60 or as high as 65 when you’re out is the best practice for energy savings. Make sure to set your thermostat to bump back up to 68 about an hour before you come back home to make sure your house is comfortable when you return.
How Much You Can Save
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that you can save up to about 10% by reducing your thermostat by 7-10 degrees while you’re at work or when you’re sleeping. Doing both will save between 10 and 20% in most cases. For the majority of homeowners, about 30% of their utility bills go to heating, so you could save hundreds of dollars a year by following the above practices.
If you’re looking to save even more, you should consider scheduling preventative maintenance on your heating system. This will ensure your equipment is running as efficiently as possible, which can also save you money on heating and repair costs while keeping your home more comfortable.
