The ideal temperature at home is 70°F for the living space, 62-64°F for the bedrooms, and 72°F for the bathrooms. At night or during your absence of more than 2 hours, you can set the thermostat at 60°F in all spots. Reducing the heating to 60°F at night is enough to save up to 20% on your HVAC energy consumption.

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Heating and cooling are the biggest energy consumer in a home. To reduce the impact on your bill, one of the solutions is to properly adjust your thermostat.

Energy-saving AC systems depend not only on sound insulation and equipment but also on the correct setting of the thermostat.

According to Energy Star, the comfort temperature for the average American is between 70 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. But keeping your home at this temperature while you're asleep or absent may not be the smartest decision. Here are five tips to help you adjust your thermostat throughout the day and more on why you should adjust it in the first place.

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Why you should adjust your thermostat?

A thermostat is used to turn on and off the heating system according to your preferred setting. It detects the air temperature and turns on the heating when it is lower than the set setting. It then turns off when this setting is reached. Keep in mind that setting a room thermostat to a higher value does not heat a room faster. The speed at which a room heats up depends on the efficiency of the heating system, space size, and how well that space is insulated.

A well-programmed room thermostat can reduce your heating bill by 10% to 20%. It can help you reduce your energy consumption, and thus your utility bill. To reach 20%, it will be better to opt for a programmable thermostat that reduces the temperature at night or in case of absence.

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1. Choose the right temperature for each time

The ideal temperature at home is 70°F for the living space, 62-64°F for the bedrooms, and 72°F for the bathrooms.

At night or during your absence of more than 2 hours, you can set the thermostat at 60°F in all spots. Reducing the heating to 60°F at night is enough to save up to 20% on your HVAC energy consumption. And if you go on vacation, the ideal setting temperature is 55°F. On some smart thermostats, the "Holiday Mode" option is available. Your usual schedule will then resume on your return, without you having to reset it again.

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2. Adjust the thermostat with maximum precision

Simply program the heating at the comfort temperature (70°F) half an hour before getting up and bring it down to 68°F half an hour before the last person leaves the house. The heat from the ducts will continue to heat the house for at least 30 minutes.

Try to establish a schedule for your family to properly program your thermostat or ask your HVAC technician to adjust it based on your custom timing.

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3. Keep the temperature steady as possible

When you are away briefly, do not change the thermostat setting. Lower the temperature only in case of longer absence (more than 2 hours).

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4. Choose a smart thermostat

Today, our lives are punctuated by traffic jams, irregular work schedules, and work at home. It is therefore important that your thermostat can best follow your lifestyle. With a smart thermostat, you can adjust the temperature of your home at any time, and directly through your smartphone.

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5. One degree less can save 7%

By lowering the temperature of your thermostat by one degree, you can save up to 7% of your energy consumption. In order to keep your comfort, why not start with a half degree. If it's not enough, try going a little further after a few days.

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Summer thermostat settings

Set the thermostat as high as needed until you reach your desired comfort. Keep your home warmer than usual when you are away and then lower the setting t0 68°F degrees when you get back to the ideal temperature.

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Winter thermostat settings

According to utility companies, the best scenario for a winter day, when the family is at home is 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 ºC). Some recommend lowering the temperature to 55 degrees (13 ºC) at night, but others suggest 65 degrees (18 ºC). Keeping track of temperature and gas levels, or electricity will help decide on how to set a thermostat accordingly.

We hope the previous tips give you a general idea of how to set your thermostat and the changes you must make to configure it properly.

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