Whether you live with another person or by yourself, if you’ve ever struggled to find a comfortable temperature setting in your house, this article is for you. Truthfully, who hasn’t struggled to agree on a temperature?
The perfect temperature for a house is one of personal preference and depends on many external factors. The weather, your location, and energy concerns all factor into what temperature you should keep your house in.
What Temperature Should You Keep Your House in Summer?
The ideal thermostat temperature during summer is 78 degrees. This, at least, is the most energy-efficient temperature for summer. However, depending on where you live, that temperature could not be cool enough for comfort.
In humid climates, the heat penetrates more. The most comfortable setting might be a couple of degrees below 78 degrees. Or, you can utilize other cooling techniques, such as a portable fan. If you live somewhere with mild summers, you could get away with setting the thermostat even higher.
In either environment, when you leave the house, you should set the temperature even higher. That way, you save on energy and money. When you’re gone, raise the temperature so that the AC goes off around 88 degrees.
Don’t worry about using more energy to cool down the house when you get home. It is still energy efficient to adjust the thermostat back to your ideal setting and wait for the house to cool down. Don’t set the thermostat to a lower temperature to cool down faster. That doesn’t work.
What Temperature Should You Keep Your House in Winter?
In winter, the ideal temperature for energy efficiency is 68 degrees. That is when you’re home. When you’re away or asleep, you can lower it ten to fifteen degrees. By lowering the temperature for at least eight hours a day during winter, you can save up to 5-15% on your energy bill.
If you have your thermostat set to 68 degrees and you find that you’re still cold, try layering clothing. It’s a good rule of thumb to dress for the season before adjusting the thermostat to a comfortable setting. Or, if you are a cold-natured person, you might want to have a space heater for areas where you find yourself particularly chilled.
Other Home Factors That Impact the Perfect Temperature
The time of day will factor into what setting the thermostat is at. During the day when no one is home, your thermostat doesn’t have to be set to its most comfortable setting. At night, the majority of people sleep better in a colder home.
Also, when it comes to finding the perfect home temperature, you have to consider everyone living in the home. Elderly ones and children typically prefer warmer climates. However, people who are more active around the house or working from home might prefer a cooler setting.
Ultimately, finding a perfect temperature is going to depend on your situation, the climate you live in, and the time of year it is. Hopefully, these suggestions give you a good starting point for finding your ideal setting.
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