What Temperature Should Your Thermostat Be On?
We’re smack dab in the middle of winter and the Oklahoma temperatures are constantly fluctuating. You’re likely trying to balance staying cozy in your home while also making sure you aren’t spending an astronomical amount of money on your heating and cooling bill every month.
Well, take it from your local heating and cooling experts – you aren’t alone.
One of the most common questions we get from customers is:
What Temperature Should My Thermostat Be On?
The answer varies on your goal for your heater/air conditioner. Are you looking at lowering your operating costs? Do you want to improve your comfort? Are you worried about making the system “work too hard?”
Let us walk you through a few possible answers…
Lowering Operating Costs
One way you can lower your costs is by installing a smart thermostat like an Ecobee. You’ll have the ability to adjust temperature based on the humidity in your home. Your thermostat will naturally adjust based on the home’s atmosphere, helping you save money. And, you won’t sacrifice comfort!
Alternatively, you could set your thermostat to a schedule, having the temperature raise or lower (depending on the season) when you’re not home. This works better for some homes and not so much for others. We recommend giving it a try! However, if your home takes all evening to catch back up or you feel uncomfortable, this may not be a good solution for your home. And don’t forget, you want to make sure your pets are safe and comfortable while you’re away so don’t set it too high or low when you’re not home.
Improving Comfort
Improving comfort in your home with your thermostat can be tricky! The best thing you can do is set up a thermostat with remote sensors and fan circulation modes. You might have some rooms that get hot while others stay cool, and having this system will allow you to better control each individual room’s temperature without having to hike the temp up and down constantly. This is especially true if you have a two story home on one system. Circulating air with a fan can smooth out temperature imbalances!
Keeping Your System from Working too Hard
This one is the easiest to address. Your system is going to work hard regardless of the weather. Setting your thermostat up or down has little effect on its lifespan, especially compared to other problems like duct leakage, improper refrigerant charge, or poor quality installation. If you are concerned about your system being overworked, spend your time and money on making sure it is installed and set up to work like it is supposed to. Don’t skip out on regular updates!
So, as you can see, there isn’t a plain answer. In short, you need to consider…
- The goal of your home temp
- The size of your home
- Who all lives in your home (pets included!)
- When you are home
- Whether you’ve updated your system
- If temperature is even the root issue (keep those air filters clean!)
At the end of the day, just make sure you are keeping your home safe and yourself comfortable. Finding a temperature that works well for you and your family and sticking to it is the best way to save money and prevent frustration!
If you’re in the market for a check-up or upgrade, we’ve got your back! Set up a time for us to drop by.
