Now that the holidays are coming up, you might be wondering if you should turn your heat down to help with energy costs! But before doing anything “drastic,” there are some things to consider …
Comfort is key
As you very well know already, if you or your family members are too cold … well, let’s just say that’s just about the #1 cause of some really nasty arguments! And in addition to this, keeping your home extremely cold is a health issue. According to a study published in the journal Public Health England, keeping your home colder than 65° can cause increased blood pressure over time, and the risk of blood clotting, even in perfectly healthy adults! [1]
And if you’re thinking that you would never turn the thermostat that low, great … but keep in mind, if you have any older people in your home (classed as age 65+ in the study), they require a home temperature of at least 70° in order to not suffer any adverse health effects. The study showed that if the environment was colder than 70°, older people had issues such as slower recovery from health conditions, in addition to the health issues already mentioned. One last thing the study showed is that your family tends to get more sleep if it’s at least 70°. (Even if you run hot and disagree!)
There are still options for saving money
So in summary, if you have older people in your house, or those who feel the cold more than others, keep your thermostat around 68°-70°F. But there are still ways to save money, and keep the family happy at the same time! Here’s what we recommend:
Using a programmable thermostat! This is the easiest solution. You can program your thermostat to automatically turn down at night or when you are away, saving you money, and also saving everyone in the house from fighting!
In fact, did you know that if you turned the thermostat down just 1° every single day, for 8 hours a day, you’d save 1% on your heating bill [2]? And yes, that does mean that if you turned the thermostat down 10° every single day, for 8 hours a day, you’d save 10% on your heating bill … it’s just that, as we’ve discussed, that isn’t a healthy option for everyone if there are people at home. Of course, it’s a number to keep in mind when the family is gone for the day or is away on vacation!
Conclusion
So we hope that helps you decide how to approach this holiday season when it comes to your home’s temperature, and we wish you “happy heating”! If you and your family need heating service in the Raleigh area, schedule an appointment online or call now: (919) 853-7910