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What Are the Best Settings for My Thermostat?
What Are the Best Settings for My Thermostat?
Posted: September 25, 2017
Finding a thermostat temperature that balances cost and comfort is the key to getting the most from your home heating system. The question is, how do you do that in your Massachusetts home?
Try starting with these guidelines:
During winter – Most people are comfortable at a temperature of about 68 degrees, particularly when they’re awake. Any higher than that and you are probably burning more heating oil or propane than you need to. If no one is home – or if everyone is asleep – you can drop that temperature a few degrees. A three to four degree decrease in temperature could cut your winter energy bill by as much as 10 percent while saving you wear and tear on your equipment.
During summer – When it’s hot outside, aim for a constant 75 degrees or so indoors (you can actually go slightly warmer when it’s really hot, since your comfort will be more based on temperature differences than on an actual number on the thermostat dial). When you’re away, raise the temperature a couple of degrees. Just don’t overdo it, otherwise your air conditioner will have to overwork to re-cool the house.
During vacations – Resist the temptation to shut down your heating or cooling system when you’re away on vacation! Shutting down your system can lead to frozen pipes in the winter and mold growth in the summer. Instead, use the hold/permanent/vacation feature on your thermostat and set the temperature a few degrees higher than “normal” during summer vacations, and several degrees lower on winter getaways.
