What to keep your thermostat at this fall as temperatures drop
It’s finally fall and, as the days grow colder, the need to turn on the heat rises.
But what’s the right temperature to set your thermostat at for the season? Experts now reveal that answer.
“I recommend setting the thermostat near 68 degrees Fahrenheit [(20 degrees Celsius)] when heating is needed, making modest adjustments when sleeping or away, and letting indoor comfort and humidity guide you,” HVAC expert Kim Lincoln told Real Simple on Wednesday.
“Fall is a transition season, so the goal is to find a comfortable setting without constantly making dramatic changes to the thermostat,” she said.
Setting the thermostat at 68 degrees when at home helps the most in cooler climates and is a good starting point, Mike Naughton, founder and CEO of Integrity Energy, told Martha Stewart earlier this month.
“At night, or when you’re away for an extended period, you can lower the temperature a few degrees to save energy while keeping the home comfortable,” he advised. Sleeping in colder temperatures has also been shown to aid sleep.
Of course, one temperature doesn’t fit all.
Fall temperatures can vary depending on where you live. The South is typically warmer than the Northeast and Midwest when there’s not a storm system or cold air mass lingering over the region.
“In places such as Texas, Florida, Arizona, or Georgia, where fall temperatures can stay high and vary more during the day, I’d set the thermostat between 70 to 78 degrees,” Joe Haycock, president of Fresh Air Concepts, LLC, also told Martha Stewart.
“The greater the temperature fluctuations, the more flexibility you need in your thermostat settings to prevent unnecessary energy consumption and reduce wear on the equipment,” he said.
However, there is a monetary benefit to switching off the heat when possible. Residents can save as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling by turning the thermostat back seven to 10 degrees for eight hours a day, according to the Department of Energy.
It’s a misconception that a furnace works harder than normal to warm the space back to a comfortable temperature.
“During winter, the lower the interior temperature, the slower the heat loss. So the longer your house remains at the lower temperature, the more energy you save, because your house has lost less energy than it would have at the higher temperature,” the department says.
Of course there are ways to stay warm when the heat is off, too.
