What Are the Best Thermostat Settings for Summer and Winter?

Heating and air conditioning account for nearly 50% of the average household’s energy use each year. Setting your thermostat wisely throughout the year will help you conserve energy without sacrificing your family’s comfort.

The following recommended temperature settings are ideal for all central heat and air units, including those manufactured by Trane, Rheem, Bryant, and Carrier.

Ideal Summer Thermostat Settings

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the best thermostat settings for summer are:

• 78˚ Fahrenheit (F) or higher when the home is occupied
• 85˚F when the home is unoccupied – You can also simply shut the air conditioner off when no one is at home.

Ideal Winter Thermostat Settings

During the winter, the DOE recommends the following thermostat settings:

• 68˚F or lower when the home is occupied
• 55˚F or lower when the home is unoccupied or while your family is asleep

How to Optimize Energy Use & Savings on Your Energy Bills

Setting back your thermostat for periods of eight or more hours will have the greatest impact on cutting your heating and cooling bills. In fact, turning your thermostat up 10 to 15˚ in the summer (or down 10 to 15˚ in the winter) can save you as much as 15% on your energy bills annually.

A common myth is that if you set back your thermostat, your central heat or air unit will be forced to work harder to get the temperature in your home back up to normal, therefore canceling out the energy savings from the setback. Many people believe this, but it simply isn’t true. The reality is that:

• When your home’s temperature dips lower than normal in the winter, heat loss will slow, conserving energy.
• In the summer, when interior temperatures climb higher, the heat flow into a home slows, which saves energy.

How to Simplify Temperature Setbacks

A programmable thermostat can help you automatically set the most efficient temperature in any season. You can preprogram temperature setbacks for periods when your home or business will be unoccupied to maximize energy savings without affecting your comfort. You can also set the thermostat to adjust temperatures to your preferred levels before your home or business will be occupied again, and your programmable thermostat will make the switch on its own. Programmable thermostats remove the element of human error, eliminating energy waste and the added costs that can arise from forgetting to adjust temperatures.

Do you need service for your thermostat and HVAC equipment? Contact the trusted HVAC technicians and installers at Parker’s Heating & Cooling today! Simply call 615-355-9137 or email us. We are ready to help you with all of your residential and commercial HVAC needs!

We also invite you to check out our special offers and join our Comfort Club to benefit from great savings while getting the best HVAC service in and around Smyrna, TN!