Don’t adjust your thermostat: Why I don’t turn down the heat at night
I can be a little bullheaded. I’m not sure how much, but the fact that everyone else does something doesn’t make it right. This is my opinion from my own experience and I suggest you do your own research to find out what works best for you and how your heating bill reacts to different adjustments.
Take the advice that you hear everywhere about turning down your thermostat. Most people lower the thermostat while they are at work or away for a few days. Why leave the heater on when no one is home to be cold? Heating an empty home is not a good idea. This is where I think they are wrong. Heating an empty home is a good idea because your heater can maintain the temperature much more easily than trying to raise it to a comfortable setting for an hour. Set the Thermostat to 68 and leave it there.
I have heard many people say that they lower the heat at night. Why? Why? Isn’t the night usually the coldest? You may turn down the heat for your comfort, but I’d like to know why. Why should you have to endure the cold in the mornings? Why force your heater to work so hard in order to heat your home? Set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature and leave it at that. This is our level of comfort. You may have a different comfort level. We snuggle up under a blanket or wear a sweater if we are cold. When we are hot, we remove our clothes to just a t-shirt. We wear slippers and socks because we have hardwood floors that are cold. Throw rugs and other items can help keep your feet warm. I know people who are cold-natured and would still feel cold at 80 degrees. If you leave your thermostat at a reasonable temperature and add or remove clothing, you can adjust your body’s heat. Some experts claim that 72 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal ambient temperature for both summer and winter. We set our air conditioner at 78 degrees and leave it there. Set your air conditioner to 78 degrees.
Adjust the thermostat and let your body adjust
Our heating bills and air conditioning costs are often less than those of our neighbors, who live in houses similar to ours. Like many others, they adjust the temperature of their homes several times per day depending on how they feel. Stop adjusting your environment for you, and let your body adjust to it. The human body is an amazing piece of machinery. It adapts well to changes in temperature. One person in a family of four will feel hot at one time, another will feel cold at another, and the fourth will not notice any temperature changes. Set the thermostat at a level that is comfortable for each individual and leave it there. They can then adjust by adding or removing clothing. Your heater will thank you and perform its job longer and more efficiently because you are letting it do what it is designed to do, maintain a certain temperature.
If you are concerned with your heating bill, try setting the temp just a few degrees less than you would normally set it. Give your body some time to adjust to the new temperature. Leave the thermostat alone and you might be surprised at your savings.
