When the temperature outside is dropping, it’s important that your home stays warm and comfortable without breaking the bank. You may be looking at your energy bill thinking “what temperature should I keep my house at?” You are not alone, every year homeowners struggle to figure out a consistent temperature throughout the seasons that will keep their home cozy. Finding a satisfactory house temperature in winter that all of the family members can agree on makes finding an average number difficult.
If your furnace can't hold whatever setpoint you choose, that's a different problem - our Sacramento furnace troubleshooting guide covers why.
Thankfully, here at Alpha Mechanical we care about your comfort needs and have done the research about the best thermostat setting for winter, making it easy to maintain that ideal thermostat setting to keep your energy bills from skyrocketing on those cold nights.
What is the best temperature to keep thermostat on in winter?
There are a number of different factors to consider that affect a comfortable room temperature on a room to room basis:
- Who occupies your home, babies and/or elderly people
- Air humidity (and how to control it)
- Pets and houseplants
- Physical activity/clothing worn indoors
- Health of everyone in your home
If humidity is high in the air, the room temperature needs to be lower and if air humidity is not an issue, the room temperature needs to be higher. If a room is too warm it can have a negative impact on your ability to concentrate, this is important to keep in mind for office spaces.
On the other hand, if the air is too cold, it can increase the risk for common colds and even heart attacks or pneumonia. It also increases the risk of mold spores growing and creating respiratory problems. Electricity costs are another important aspect to think about when considering the temperature for the thermostat in winter. If you’re in need of a heat pump repair or furnace replacement services, Alpha Mechanical can assist with those too.
How to heat home economically? - Other Temperature Controls
1. Rate Comparison
Search for different electricity rates with different companies, preferably with an energy company that provides renewable energy in your area to guarantee you are getting the best price for your power and aren’t paying more than you need to. This would bring benefits to your household expenses and the environment.
2. Ownership
Close any doors or vents to unused rooms can make it easier for your furnace to carry the desired air temperature to occupied living areas in your home
3. On Task
Schedule annual furnace maintenance and inspection.
4. Grunt Work
Seal cracks around windows and door jams.
5. Alternate Warming Solutions
Wearing warmer clothes within your home will make your family less dependent on the heating system. An electric blanket is another suggestion to keep you warm and cozy.
6. Home Care
Be sensible to those with particular needs in your home like young children and the elderly who often need slightly warmer temperatures.
7. Energy Efficiency
Turning your thermostat down 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours a day can cut your annual heating bill by up to 10% (Energy.gov). A programmable or smart thermostat makes this automatic. Continue reading to see what strategies we recommend.
8. Common Sense
If you are leaving your home for an extended period of time, we recommend turning your heating system off. However, if there is anything occupying your home that could be affected by a significant drop in temperatures such as pets, house plants, or technology devices, leaving your system on can reduce the risk of freezing.
9. Alternate Energy Solutions
Another economical addition to your heating system would be to try out radiator valves. Radiator valves allow you to give a manual adjustment to your individual radiators which gives you more control over warming the different rooms in your house it’s connected to.
Utilizing the strategies above can help you find the best temperature to keep the house in winter that doesn’t rely solely on the heating system and its related expenses.
Recommended thermostat settings for winter
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to about 68°F while you're home and awake in winter, and turning it down while you're asleep or away to save on heating (Energy.gov). In a mild climate like Sacramento, that setpoint keeps most homes comfortable without overworking the furnace.
Beyond a single setpoint, the ideal temperature varies room by room based on how each space is used. The criteria for deciding on room temperatures rely on the level of activity and occupancy that the room holds.
Any area in the home that is not used as a normal living space should be cooler, this means hallways, entryways, storage rooms, and even office spaces.
The bedroom should be slightly cooler also this is because you generally spend your time there sleeping so you are already kept warm with bedding.
Bathrooms should be on the warmer side in order for people to adjust to the air temperature after stepping out of the hot shower. The steam in the air will already create humidity in the room meaning that your furnace won’t struggle to maintain that higher temperature and work overtime.
Children’s bedrooms should also be slightly warmer when they sleep depending on the age range to ensure a restful sleep and help them to regulate body temperature(s).
A living room is where you spend the majority of your time so they should be kept slightly warmer as well.
What temperature should your house be?
A good rule of thumb for deciding what is normal house temperature is if there are people at home throughout the daytime. Keeping the house between 70 and 72 degrees and gradually working toward 68 degrees, depending on comfort levels. If everyone is away from home during the daytime, or you’re asleep at night, we recommend to set thermostat to 66 degrees and aiming for 62 degrees if you are really trying to lower your energy bill. Gradually reducing the temperature by one degree each week can help your family easily become accustomed to the cooler heat temperatures which can also help you to save money.
The answer to the question of “what temperature to keep house in winter?” may also depend upon the type of thermostat your house uses. In order to achieve ideal heater temperature settings for the various zones throughout your home, consider making the change to a smart thermostat. These wifi-enabled technology devices have many benefits including allowing you to schedule the temperature of your home and communicate with your furnace system through an app on your smartphone. This device can show you when it plans to turn on and to what degree, which rooms are being heated and using the most energy and can allow you to manage that on that app.
Some models even have programmable heating settings which allow the device to detect when you are home and when you are gone to adjust home temperatures automatically. These types of thermostats allow you to save money long-term by managing energy usage and reducing your carbon footprint from your heating source. Alpha Mechanical offers thermostat and zoning services in Sacramento and can install the right technology specific to your home’s needs.
Since Sacramento does not have harsh winters, it is easier for your heating system to maintain its temperature. You can maintain temperatures within your home and increase energy efficiency more easily by instituting these rules:
- Insulate the inside of your attic and basement and seal any visible cracks in window seals
- Change out your furnace air filter punctually
- Schedule HVAC system maintenance
Looking to upgrade your thermostat? Learn about our smart thermostat installation in Sacramento to schedule and control your heat from anywhere.
Consider Alpha Mechanical your trusted partner
Here in California, we know that the overhead cost and amount of energy it takes to heat your home can be a hefty price.
Our company is built on quality services to our customers, fair pricing, and honest assessments. Alpha Mechanical is here serving the Sacramento region with smart solutions for you and your family. Our business believes the best temperature for thermostat in winter on average is 70 degrees for the Sacramento area. Our team offers replacement and maintenance service as well as installation for smart thermostats and showing you how they work. Our company is equipped with a variety of different skill sets and offers heating system repair in Sacramento, CA. When it comes to HVAC, we’ve got you covered.
Summary
- Look to supplement your central heating by self-regulating your home’s temperature using radiator valves, closing unused air vents, wearing warmer clothes within your home
- Shop for different energy companies
- Invest in a digital or smart thermostat to better track and oversee your home’s temperature and energy use wherever you are
- The ideal room temperature is conditional home to home depending on air humidity, levels of activity/which rooms are being occupied, and who occupies them
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a normal house temperature?
A comfortable indoor temperature is generally between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit, adjusted for who's home, activity level, and humidity.
What is the best temperature for a house in winter?
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends 68 degrees Fahrenheit while you're awake and at home, and lowering it while you sleep or are away. In Sacramento's mild winters, 68 to 70 keeps most homes comfortable without a high heating bill.
What is the recommended thermostat setting for winter?
It depends on who lives in your home and how often it's occupied. A smart thermostat lets you program temperatures by time of day or day of week, and zoning lets you heat only the rooms in use. As a rule of thumb, aim for about 68 degrees in winter and 78 degrees in summer.