We naturally want the indoor temperature in our homes to be warm and cozy in the winter. We’ve all heard the term “polar vortex” by now—that winter weather condition that sends temperatures plummeting and homeowners cranking up the heat. Are there best practices for managing your thermostat settings to keep you warm without draining your energy budget? Experts say yes.
The urge to crank up the heat
When it’s frosty outside, we want it toasty inside, so we dial up the heat on the thermostat. But HVAC experts urge you to keep your thermostat set at 68 max during the day when you are active around the house. If you feel a bit chilled at that level, rather than push the indoor temperature up a degree or two, put on warm clothes and snuggle under a blanket on the couch. Bundling up a bit costs you nothing, whereas cranking up the thermostat raises your utility bill.
At bedtime, HVAC pros recommend setting your thermostat between 62 and 67. Put an extra blanket on the bed. Not only does this save energy dollars, but medical professionals also say that ideal sleep occurs when the room is cooler at night, and you add a warm blanket.
Be wise about maintaining the indoor temperature
The easiest way to maintain an ideal temperature indoors and balance your energy budget is to install a SMART thermostat. With it, you can set those temperature adjustments to happen at prescribed times, program it to lower or raise temperatures when you’re gone on trips, and eliminate the chances of forgetting to manage temperatures by memory.
Some other tips:
- Add a space heater in hard-to-heat, frequently occupied rooms.
- Open window blinds by day to let in warming sunlight, but close them when it’s dark to retain indoor heat.
- Seek out and repair leaky seals around windows and doors.
- Regularly change your HVAC filters to maintain airflow and a consistent indoor temperature.
Related – Balancing Comfort and Cost at the Thermostat
