Thermostat Temperature Setting Guide

If you are installing a new thermostat or want to start saving energy and money, the first thing you should consider is your thermostat temperature.

Today we are going to take a look at thermostat temperature settings and guidelines for summers and winters. We are also going to touch on scheduling as well as do’s and don’ts when it comes to adjusting your temperature.

Best Thermostat temperature for winters

As a rule of thumb, 68 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal thermostat temperature in winters when you are home. This is a comfortable temperature for most people, regardless of the weather they are used to.

According to question-and-answer sites, most people would be comfortable wearing jeans and a long-sleeved shirt at 69 degrees Fahrenheit or 20 degrees Celsius.

When you are not home or when you are sleeping, it is advisable that you lower your thermostat by around 10 degrees. This is because the lower temperature will help you sleep better. Another benefit is that lowering your thermostat temperature for 8 hours can reduce your electricity bill by up to 15%.

At 55 – 60 degrees Fahrenheit, your house will remain warm enough to be comfortable when you arrive from work or wake up in the morning.

Your thermostat will also be able to increase the temperature back up to 69 degrees Fahrenheit in almost no time. If you have a wi-fi thermostat or a timer, your thermostat can warm your house just before you wake up or arrive home.

Remember that your comfort level is the biggest determinant of what your temperature should be. When your thermostat is set in the 60 – 70-degree range, keep in mind that for every one degree you lower the daily temperature, you can save anything from 3 – 5% of your total heating costs.

Best Temperature to Set Thermostat in Summers

During summer, the ideal thermostat temperature is 78 degrees Fahrenheit. According to non-profits and government-issued guidelines, this is also the most economic temperature, providing that you switch your thermostat off when you are not home.

There is some debate on whether you should switch your thermostat off entirely. When your thermostat is set to, say 78 degrees, it cools down the surface temperature of your walls, furniture, and floor.

Then, your thermostat doesn’t have to work hard to keep the temperature in your house at 78 degrees. Switching your thermostat off before leaving for the day will require from your thermostat to cool down your entire interior space from scratch when you get home.

It may be worth experimenting with switching off your thermostat every time you leave your home for the duration of one month. During the next month, leave your thermostat on at, say, 83 degrees before leaving your home. Afterward, compare the heating bills of the two months.

If you have a wi-fi or programmable thermostat, you can start lowering the temperature in your house just before you arrive.

People located in North America may be used to vastly different temperatures. Someone that is used to the weather in Wyoming may find 78 degrees to still be a little too toasty while someone from California or Arizona may prefer 80 degrees or higher. People differ, and you should choose a temperature that you and your family members find comfortable.

How to Set Thermostat Temperature?

If your home is equipped with central heating or cooling, chances are that you have a thermostat that you use for controlling the ambient temperature. Some thermostats are programmable, but in essence, they all work in the same way.

On your thermostat, you will likely see a function or mode button that you can use to choose between heating and cooling. After choosing, use the arrows to select an ambient temperature that you would like the rooms in your house to be.

On the thermostat’s display, you will see the temperature that you selected.

The thermostat display may also give an indication of the current temperature. When the ambient temperature is the same as the temperature you inserted in the thermostat, the air-conditioning will switch off, only to start up again when its fitted thermometer detects a change in the temperature.

You may also have the choice of a fan. In general, fans only circulate the air in the room and doesn’t have any real effect on overall temperature.

How Does Scheduling Work?

Just like everything else, thermostats are also being developed at a rapid rate, and you may be forgiven for finding temperature scheduling somewhat confusing!

Since scheduling is aimed at making your life easier, it may be worth your while to spend some time to figure out the scheduling function of your thermostat.

Setting different temperatures at different times can save you a lot of money. Here are the most common scheduling programs:

• 7-day programming allows you to set unique temperatures for each day of the week.
• 5-1-1 programming allows you to set 3 different temperature schedules, one for Monday to Friday, one for Saturday, and one for Sunday.
• 5-1 programming is a two-schedule program, one for Monday to Friday and one for Saturday and Sunday.

All these scheduling programs typically have four different temperature settings: Wake Time, for example, 05:00 – 07:00, Leave Time, 07:00 – 17:00, Return Time, 17:00 – 22:00, and Sleep Time, 23:00 – 05:00.

Make sure that the times you enter is congruent with your family’s schedule. If you live alone, for example, and you are working night shifts, this schedule would look completely different.

Do’s and Don’ts While Adjusting Temperatures

Having the correct thermostat temperature is really important, hopefully these tips would have increased your knowledge about setting the home temperature for both summers and winters.