Author: Jeff O'Hara
What’s the Ideal Temperature for Your House?
This quick guide aims to help you set your thermostat to the ideal temperature for energy efficiency and peak performance.
When it comes to heating and cooling in your home, Houston thermostat settings are based on two main goals: being comfortable and saving money. While everyone’s ideal temperature for house heating and cooling is different, the trick is to find the right balance so that you can chill out in the summer and stay toasty through the winter while managing to remain happy in the wallet!
Why the Right Temperature Setting is Important?
1. Comfort
Ideal comfort is different for every homeowner, with some preferring it to be cold in the summer and warm in the winter. The key is to find the best temperature for comfort, allowing you to balance the costs involved. If lowering your thermostat a few degrees and wearing a sweater during the winter can save you some money, it might be well worth it.
2. Energy Savings
According to the Department of Energy, you can save 10% a year on heating and cooling by raising or lowering your thermostat setting by 7-10 degrees, depending on the season. You want to save energy, and the way to do that is to be wise in setting your thermostat temperature.
3. Cost
You don’t want to have an anxiety attack every time the energy bill arrives in the mail. Setting your thermostat just a few degrees up or down will dramatically affect how much you spend on energy each month.
What’s the Best Thermostat Setting for Summer?
The most appropriate summer thermostat setting in Houston is roughly 78 degrees. This temperature setting strikes a compromise between sufficient cooling and energy savings. We know it’s hot and humid during our summers, but the recommended thermostat setting is based on cooling your home effectively while also saving you money.
When you’re sleeping, you can raise the setting a few degrees. When you’re away from the house for more extended periods, set the thermostat to 82. It’s not a good idea to turn it off completely since the AC will have to work harder to get it to your desired temperature when you return.
What’s the Best Thermostat Setting for Winter?
While you’re at home, the recommended thermostat heat setting is 68 degrees, and this temperature will keep you warm enough and keep energy costs down. Some of you may be thinking that this winter thermostat setting of 68 is just too cold. Well, try starting a few degrees warmer and then work your way down one degree at a time.
At night, while you’re sleeping, try bringing the thermostat setting down to 64. If you’re going to be out of the house overnight, you could go as low as 60 degrees, but not lower as you want to make sure it’s warm enough that your pipes are not in danger of freezing.
What Are Some Common Thermostat Setting Mistakes?
1. Setting the Wrong Temperature on Your Thermostat
Most people set their thermostats too low in the summer and too high in the winter to achieve optimum indoor comfort. Thanks to drafty windows, leaky ductwork, and poorly maintained HVAC equipment, wasted energy is a massive concern for the homeowner. By adjusting the expectations you have for your heating and AC systems, especially on high-demand days, you can stay comfy and save money!
2. Keeping the Thermostat at the Same Temperature All the Time
If you leave your house for an extended period, like when you go to work, and don’t lower or raise the thermostat for the time you’re out, you are wasting energy and money. If no one is home, raise or lower the temperature.
3. Turning off the Thermostat When You’re Away
If you’re going away for the day or even for a few days, you might think that turning off the thermostat will result in the highest energy and cost savings. Not so. Upon your return, the AC or heating system will have to work overtime to get the temperature back to your comfort range. And in winter, if the house gets too cold, you risk coming home to frozen pipes, a costly nightmare that no homeowner wants to endure.
Should I Install a Smart Thermostat?
With all the information you now have about setting your thermostat, you’ve learned that you need to adjust the temperature depending on if you’re at home, sleeping, or away. Instead of worrying about all those adjustments, let a programmable thermostat do it for you.
With a programmable thermostat, you can preset the temperatures you want at the times of day you want them to take effect. Just set it up once, and the thermostat will do the rest. It will take the fuss out of having to remember to change the temperature throughout the day, and its consistency will save you money.
If you want to get adventurous, smart thermostats do everything programmable thermostats do. These wi-fi-enabled devices work with associated apps to allow complete HVAC system control from anywhere there’s an internet connection. Smart thermostats will self-adjust and “learn” the best temperature setting for your home based on your comfort zone.
Nick’s AC can help you with all your heating and cooling needs. Our HVAC experts will advise you on which thermostat works best for you and check out your existing thermostat and existing HVAC system.
Nick’s can also help you with energy-saving tips. Call Nick’s AC today at (346) 471-2499 or contact us online so we can provide you with HVAC solutions that work for you.