Is Your Home the Perfect Temperature This Winter?

—- As featured in Prior Lake Neighbors Magazine January 2020 where NMS Mechanical is an Expert Contributor 

Anyone who tries to get their home to just the right temperature in the wintertime knows that doing so can be a tricky undertaking. You want your thermostat set high enough to keep you warm and toasty, but you also want it low enough to maintain your comfort and prevent a sweatbox situation.

Determining the perfect winter indoor temperature for your home may also be a matter of supply and demand. You must measure your family’s desired comfort against the price you’re willing to pay for your winter heating bills.

The heating and cooling professionals at NMS Mechanical in Prior Lake share three things to know about setting your thermostat for winter, and how to achieve the perfect balance in temperature.

1. Set Daytime Temperatures Between 68 and 70 degrees

During the daylight hours of the winter, most people like to have interior spaces a bit warmer than at other times of the day. While the size of your home and the type of heating and cooling equipment you own will have some impact on the final numbers, a good general rule of thumb is to keep it between 68 and 70 degrees. This way, it’s noticeably warmer than outdoor temps yet not hot enough to be sweltering.

2. Turn the Thermostat Down 7 to 10 Degrees at Night or When You’re Not at Home

At night, most of us are warm in our beds, so there’s really no need to keep your thermostat at 70 degrees. Also, a higher temperature setting causes your home to lose more energy; turning it down at night or when you’re not at home is both more energy-efficient and cost-effective. Lowering your daytime temperature by 7 or 10 degrees is a comfortable level for most people.

3. Take Advantage of Your Thermostat’s Programming Capabilities

Many thermostats on the market today are programmable. This provides an easy way to maintain consistent temperatures at different times of the day. You can typically program your thermostat for a seven-day cycle, or you can set it for a five-day/two-day cycle if you want different temps on the weekend. Check with your thermostat manufacturer or HVAC installation provider for more information on how to program your particular unit.

Knowing the ideal home temperature and using your thermostat correctly won’t matter if you place it in the wrong part of your home. An interior wall, ideally near the center of the house is the best place for your thermostat. Also, keep in mind which rooms people use most since these are the rooms where you want the temperature to be the most comfortable.

Searching for the ideal thermostat setting in the winter can lead to comfort battles within your home. Colder weather can bring with it the notion that you need to plan for high energy bills to keep your family warm, but using the recommended thermostat settings can prevent temperature wars and crippling energy costs.

Call Out Box

Let the heating and cooling specialists at NMS Mechanical help you stay warm this winter. They perform furnace repair and installation for clientele throughout the South Metro region of the Twin Cities. Visit them online at www.nmsmechanical.com or call 952-451-8923.