With temperatures sinking to below freezing across the South, many want to crank their heater to the max for maximum comfort inside their home. However, did you know that setting your house’s internal temperature to what you wish to feel outside could be setting up a surprise on your energy bill and even costly HVAC repairs?
Here are some things to consider before you turn up your furnace on those cold evenings.
1. Think ‘low and slow’ for your nights at home.
Like a well-cooked home meal, the optimal temperature for properly heating your home might not be the intensity you are expecting. As tempting as it might be to combat the elements outside by making it extra warm inside, the key is to keep your home’s temperature at a stable in-between.
According to the US Department of Energy, 68 degrees Fahrenheit is commonly cited by most experts as the ideal setting to leave your home during the winter months. The reasoning for this lower end figure comes down to retaining heat.
When you set your home to a lower, yet comfortable enough, temperature, you are delaying the speed of heat loss compared to putting it in the mid 70s or higher. Slowing the rate that heat leaves your home means you will be warmer for longer compared to the quickness that upper end temperatures occur at.
Studies have also shown that lower temperatures can improve your quality of sleep compared to higher ones.
However, comfort ranges from person to person so this figure isn’t meant to be taken as an absolute. Consider 68 degrees to be a starting point for an up to 4-degree swing (maximum of 72 degrees Fahrenheit) and adjust accordingly to your preference.
2. You could be pushing your heater to the limit.
Another goal for keeping your thermostat low is that heating your home uses a lot of energy. Last year, natural gas prices rose 30%, and families across the country could have unknowingly been operating under the “warmer = better” principle, winding up with some large bills during the winter.
Additionally, keeping your heater up to combat the conditions outside could also be straining your system to the point where parts inside the machine are fracturing. With proper operation and frequent maintenance from your Harbin technicians, you can extend the life of your heater for many winters ahead.
