Stay Toasty This Winter by Finding Your Thermostat’s Sweet Spot

There’s nothing like the sharp jolt of icy floors and crisp morning air to remind you that winter has set in. ‘Tis the season for raising the heat. But keeping warm isn’t just about flipping the switch thermostat.

Winter comfort often comes with a hefty price tag, causing many to dread their utility bills. Here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be that way. Whether you rely on a traditional furnace or a modern HVAC system, a little know-how can go a long way. By finding the right place for your heating settings and making simple adjustments to your home’s energy habits, you can stay healthy while keeping costs under control. Winter heat doesn’t necessarily mean a financial freeze.

“It’s more than just a number on the wall,” said Julian Picard, owner of an HVAC company Mechanical center line.

Here’s what you need to know to stay cozy this winter and potentially save some money on your heating bill.

This is the ideal thermostat temperature for winter

in the winter experts recommend that you set your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re at home and 60 to 65 degrees when you’re sleeping or away.

You can set it higher, but this will reduce efficiency and result in higher energy bills. It also depends on what the weather is like outside, Picard said. If it’s 20 F outside, maybe don’t set your thermostat to 80 F, he advised.

Then there is the question of changing the temperature at night or when you are not at home. The Department of Energy offers you turn the thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees from its normal setting for 8 hours a day, saying it can save up to 10% a year on heating and cooling.

Picard suggested a smaller change: Lower the temperature by just four degrees when you’re away or sleeping. This means your system won’t have to work as hard to get back up to temperature.

“You don’t want to have drastic changes in temperature,” said Mahli Dukes, franchise owner of WIN Home Inspection in Indiana.

You should also familiarize yourself with your specific heating system. If you notice, for example, that your home never reaches the temperature you set, it could be a sign that your system is wrong size for your homePicard says. And that’s a sign to lower your thermostat setting so your HVAC isn’t constantly running at high speed.

Read more: You can actually save money by using electricity at these specific times

This is the ideal thermostat temperature for summer

In the summer, the ideal temperature for your thermostat is 75 to 78 F when you’re at home and 80 degrees when you’re away or sleeping, Dukes said. The DOE suggests 78 F during the day, 82 F when you sleep, and 85 F when you’re not home.

Most importantly, you want to make sure your system can handle it. If you notice that the house never gets as cool as your thermostat setting, it probably means that your system is not right for your home and you may want to reduce the cooling. You may also want to check how well your doors and windows are sealed and how well insulated your home is.

Air conditioners can only really cool your home to 15 to 20 degrees below the outside temperature, so setting the thermostat too low can cause your system to run inefficiently.

Does it matter what type of HVAC you have?

Yes and no. The same general temperature recommendations apply regardless HVAC type you have in your home, Picard says.

But your results may vary depending on the type and size of your system. Systems that are larger or smaller for your home will operate inefficiently, resulting in higher heating and cooling costs.

That’s why Picard recommends you ask a professional for an HVAC inspection and clean your system every year. These professionals can tell you how best to use your specific system for the best comfort and efficiency, he said.

Avoid this common thermostat mistake

Say your home is a little colder than you’d prefer and you want it to be perfect now. It might be 65 F inside and you might want it to be 70 F. Don’t set it to 75 hoping it will warm it up faster. Most HVAC units have two settings—on or off—and there is no faster way to get to 70 F.

Set your thermostat to the temperature you want it to be. Setting a warmer or cooler temperature than you actually want in the hope that it will speed things up will just result in overheating or overheating – and overspending on your energy bills.

Is your thermostat in the wrong place?

Your thermostat knows how to set the temperature because it has a thermometer in it. So if your the thermostat is in the wrong placeit will not give you an accurate reading of the temperature in your home.

You want to avoid placing your thermostat in a place where there are frequent changes in temperature or humidity, such as in the kitchen or bathroom. If it is on an outside wall, it may be more sensitive to outside temperature changes.

Instead, try placing your thermostat on an interior wall in a place like your living room.

And if you have a thermostat that supports external room sensors, having sensors in other places, like the bedroom, can help you better regulate the temperature in the rooms where you spend most of your time.

Save money by adjusting your thermostat

Lowering your energy bills this year should not be difficult.

“There’s a huge misconception that to be energy efficient you have to be uncomfortable,” Pickard said.

Homeowners can also look at areas outside of their thermostat. Invest in good insulationfor example, it can significantly reduce the load on your HVAC system.

“You’d be surprised how much energy we’re blowing right through our ceilings,” Pickard said.

This annual inspection and maintenance appointment can also help you save money. Pickard said that build-up in your HVAC system can result in efficiency losses of up to 10 percent per year, which you’ll see on your energy bill. That’s why cleaning it every year is a good move.

And if you’re in the market for a new HVAC system, it’s a great time to take stock and make sure what you have fits your particular home.