Everyone
prefers to keep their homes at a different temperature. However, some
temperatures may be better for you than other temperatures. In many cases,
folks base their home temperature on their personal preferences. But there is
actually a healthy home temperature you may want to keep your thermostat at.
This, of course, will vary based on the season and climate you live in. As we
have distinguished winter and summer seasons in Washington and Oregon, we’re
going to base our recommended healthy home temperature off of that.
There’s also
a financial health aspect to this as well. According to Energy Saver, you can
save up to 10 percent a year on your heating and cooling costs just by turning
your thermostat back anywhere from 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit from its normal
setting for 8 hours a day. Who doesn’t like saving money?
Healthy Home Temperature for Winter
If you’re at
home, the recommended temperature to keep your thermostat at is 68 degrees
Fahrenheit. This may seem a bit chilly, but this temperature should keep you
comfortably warm. If it doesn’t, it’s recommended that you wear layers around
the house. Plus, who doesn’t love snuggling up under a warm blanket during the
cold winter months anyway?
This is a comfortable temperature that will also not break the bank. Furthermore, if
you’re out of the house, such as at work, lower this even more. According to EnergyHub, for each
degree that you lower your heat, you can save 3 percent or even more. If you
have a fireplace that you use for warmth as well, you can go lower than 68
degrees Fahrenheit.
Healthy Home Temperature for Summer
If it’s cool enough to keep your windows open, go
for it! However, we understand that this isn’t always the case. A healthy home
temperature for the summertime is within a degree or two of 75 degrees
Fahrenheit. This is for when you’re actually at home and awake. Unlike in the
winter, when you should set the temperature back when you aren’t home, in the
summer you should actually raise it several degrees higher or even turn it off
entirely.
Similarly, when you’re sleeping, you should also
raise it a few degrees. Making it hotter while you’re out and while you’re
sleeping is energy-saving and will help lower your cooling costs. However,
remember not to let it get too hot in your home, as many air conditioners can
struggle if the air temperature gets too warm.
One important thing to note is that setting your
thermostat to a much colder setting than normal when you immediately turn on
your air conditioner doesn’t actually cool your home faster, despite it feeling
like it does. It can actually lower the air temperature in your home too much,
resulting in higher expenses.
Healthy Home
Temperature for Sleeping
We alluded to a healthy home temperature for sleeping
above while talking about temperatures for both summer and winter, but let’s
get into this a little bit more. The best home temperature for when you’re
sleeping is between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. This may seem like quite a
large range, and it is, but everyone’s body temperature is different.
We all know that when we sleep our body
temperatures drop. This, of course, influences what temperature is best for us
to keep our homes while we sleep. If your home is too cold or too hot, it
can throw off your internal temperature while you’re sleeping. This can lead to
a restless night’s sleep and all-around discomfort. Figure out which
temperature works best for you and remember that the suggested temperature to
sleep in is 65 to 72 degrees.
Healthy Home
Temperature for When You’re Away
Going away for an extended period of time, or
even just for a weekend, means you should change the setting of your thermostat
in your home. But what should you change it to? You may be tempted to shut the
system off completely, but don’t do that. If there’s a hold or vacation feature
on your thermostat, take advantage of that. Set your thermostat at a constant
temperature.
If you’re away during the winter months, set this
number to one that is several degrees lower than your usual temperature (which
should be around 68 degrees Fahrenheit). If you’re away during the summer
months, set this number to one that’s several degrees higher than your usual
temperature (which should be 75 degrees Fahrenheit).
Why shouldn’t you turn your system off
completely? This can result in mold growth, and no one wants that! This mold
will come from high humidity levels that will arise, as the air won’t be
circulating, and mold can build up. In the winter, you also need to be cautious
of your pipes freezing and bursting. It’s important to keep your home warm
enough at all times to keep your pipes thawed.
Thermostat
Location
It’s important to note that the location of your
thermostat matters to your home’s temperature. The location can affect both
efficiency and performance. For instance, if you have your thermostat right
above your furnace or in direct sunlight, it can give off a warmer reading than
what is exactly in your home. Furthermore, furniture can block the natural air
movement. Keep this in mind when you’re furnishing your home, as you don’t want
to place any pieces in front of your thermostat or below it. All of this is
good to keep in mind.
At Entek we’d be happy to stop by your home and
check out your thermostat for you. If you’re looking to install a new
thermostat, upgrade your current one, or move it to a location that will result
in it working better, we’re happy to do that for you as well. Please give us a call today, and together we
can make sure that your home is operating efficiently at its best healthy home
temperature for you and your family.
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