To each their own. This is true of our taste in food and clothing and it’s true of the temperature we choose to keep our homes. Each person’s comfort level is going to be different. However, we have found that the ideal home temperature is between 68 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Choosing which temperature within that range to set your thermostat will depend on the winter and summer season.

With programmable thermostats you can save money by setting your temperature lower in the winter and higher in the summer while you’re away from your house. However, there are some factors you need to consider when it comes to choosing the temperature setting of your furnace or air conditioner.

RIGHT-SIZE YOUR AC

Before we talk about an ideal temperature for summer and winter, it’s important to first talk about the unit itself. A lot of people might be surprised to learn that their air conditioner could be too big for their house. When a system is too large, it costs more to run and it’s harder to control the humidity level.

A homeowner might try to save money by turning off the unit completely, but when it’s not running it’s also not dehumidifying. A humid house will feel much hotter than it actually is. This causes people to turn the temperature lower, which makes the air conditioner work harder without addressing the humidity level.

A smaller unit that is right-sized for your home will use less energy, which means it can run more often and constantly control the humidity level. You’ll likely feel more comfortable in a house that’s set at 75 degrees with a lower humidity level than you would in a home that was set at 68 degrees with a higher humidity level.

WHAT TEMPERATURE SHOULD YOU SET YOUR THERMOSTAT TO IN THE SUMMER?

Once you have the right-size air conditioner, there’s still an ideal temperature range to consider. It’s best to not set your thermostat lower than 70 degrees in the summer. Most AC units are not designed to cool a house below 70 degrees, and you risk the system freezing up.

We recommend trying to keep the temperature inside your house below 80 degrees at all times during the summer. At 80 degrees, there’s a good chance the humidity level in your home will be very high. This is uncomfortable and inefficient.

WHAT TEMPERATURE SHOULD YOU SET YOUR THERMOSTAT TO IN THE WINTER?

It will be best to keep your thermostat settings within 5 to 8 degrees in either direction of your ideal home temperature in the winter. If your preferred temperature is 70 degrees, don’t set your furnace lower than 62 degrees or higher than 78 degrees. If you allow the temperature inside your home to drop lower than 62 degrees the furnace will have to work too hard to reach your ideal temperature of 70 degrees again. On the flip side, you shouldn’t set your thermostat above 78 degrees because this temperature is too hot for a house. At this high temperature setting, you’d be wasting a great deal of energy and damaging your furnace.

SAVE ENERGY AND MONEY

Being thoughtful about your programmable thermostat settings will have a positive impact on your energy consumption all year. By reducing your home’s temperature close to 68 degrees during winter and around 78 degrees during the summer, you can conserve energy and lower your energy bills.