Keeping every member of your family comfortable in your home can be a challenge. Whether outdoor temps are cold or excessively warm, indoor comfort can vary from individual to individual. It also is heavily impacted by the design of your home, the quality of windows and doors, and location of rooms.
Temperatures during a Northeast Ohio winter can be a special challenge, especially when winter storms blow in, but a little effort and some adjustment to your thermostat can help keep family members comfortable and save you money on your heating bill over the course of the season.
What is optimum?
Ceiling height, number, size, and quality of windows, and location of rooms (a room located over an unheated garage, for example) can all impact the optimum temperature setting on your thermostat. The key, therefore, is to work with family members and take several days to adjust the setting and determine the comfort level of those using the various rooms in your home.
Not sure where to start? Consider thermostat settings that seem to be optimum for most:
- When you are home, set your thermostat between 68 and 70 degrees.
- For sleeping, keep the temperature no higher than 65 degrees.
- When you are away (working or out of town) set the temperature between 63 and 65 degrees.
- Never adjust your thermostat more than 8 degrees, as this overworks your HVAC to get back to your optimum temperature and can cost you more.
Stick to a schedule
Your family members and your lifestyle will determine the optimum temperature for you. Once everyone agrees, create a schedule and stick to it to save money on your heating bills. Even if 70 degrees is the chosen temperature when your family is in the home, consistently adjusting down to 68 for sleeping each night will lower your heating bill by 20% a month. You can save even more by lowering the temp when your home is empty for two hours or more each day.
A programmable thermostat is ideal for setting temperatures that fit your family’s schedule. By setting the thermostat to adjust the temperature for when you anticipate waking or when the first member of your family arrives home, you are never tempted to crank it up because the house is uncomfortably cold.
Consider zone heating
While zone heating costs a little more to install, it can save you significant money over time. Zoned heating allows you to target rooms based on how they are used. Consider the following:
- Set heat lower in the kitchen when the oven is being used.
- Keep temps a bit higher in basement recreation rooms.
- Maintain bedrooms at 68 and lower the temp for sleeping.
- Adjust temps down in rooms that get a lot of direct sunlight.
- Maintain lower temperatures in rooms that are rarely used, such as guest bedrooms.
Schedule your checkup
Don’t’ forget, your HVAC system works best when it is operating efficiently with clean air filters. Schedule a fall maintenance checkup today with Clayton Heating to ensure yours is in peak condition before winter.
Our heating maintenance service includes:
- Lubricate all moving parts
- Replace filters
- Heat exchanger inspection
- Inspect and replace worn belts, connections, and wiring
- Blower, ducts, and vents inspection
- Pilot light and drainage systems inspection
Call Clayton Heating today to be sure you are ready for a Northeast Ohio winter.