What Temperature Setting Is Best for My Home Thermostat?

Studies show that about nine out of ten Americans say they’ve rarely or never programmed their thermostat because they’re not sure how to do it – which is a shame, considering that managing the temperature of your home with a thermostat* is one of the easiest ways we know to save energy and lower heating bills.

If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, getting one is a smart move: if you use it correctly, it will pay for itself in the first year you own it. But what thermostat settings will give you the best energy-saving bang for the buck?

Let’s take a look.

Optimal temperatures for your programmable thermostat

Once you get a handle on using your programmable thermostat, the U.S Department of Energy suggests the following settings for an optimum balance of comfort and savings:

Winter months:

• When you’re home and awake, set the thermostat for 68°F.
• Lower temperatures by 10° for the hours you’re asleep or out of the house.

Summer months:

• When you’re home and awake, program air conditioning to 78°F.
• Program the AC to shut off during the hours you’re out of the house.

In general:

• Program heat (or A/C) to shut off 20-30 minutes before you leave home each day; return them to normal comfort levels 20 to 30 minutes before you come home.*
• Program reductions in heating or cooling to begin 60 minutes before you go to sleep; return them to normal comfort levels 30 minutes before you awaken.

Be smart and save on your monthly energy bills this winter and beyond. Want to save even more? Contact us today to learn about high-efficiency propane and heating oil equipment installation and service in Androscoggin County, ME.

* If you have a wi-fi thermostat, you can control your home’s temperature from your smartphone!