How to Determine the Right Thermostat Temperature

December 17, 2023
Smart Thermostats

Several factors come into play when you are deciding on the ideal thermostat temperature for your Roseville home. You have to consider everything from your budget to the average temperatures during any given season. Exploring these factors, as well as information about choosing the right thermostat and keeping it in good working order ensure that you make the best choice.

Choosing the Best Thermostat

Once you determine the best temperature for your home, you want to have a thermostat that can maintain it. This means choosing one that is fully compatible with your HVAC system. You also want to pick one that you are able to use easily so that it is simple to set your preferred temperature. Consider the display that will work the best for you. For example, a touchscreen interface or a digital display.

There are two primary power sources for thermostats, including wiring to your HVAC system or requiring batteries. Think about the maintenance requirements and convenience of each of these to make the right choice.

Think about the installation requirements. Some have a more extensive installation process that requires a professional to ensure that they do it properly. Wiring compatibility is another concern with installation. For example, some thermostats get their power from a C-wire. If this is not already present in your home, it will be an additional step during the installation process.

Determining the Right Thermostat Temperature

The ideal temperature for a home will vary among families. You might have to play around with different temperatures to determine which ones work the best for everyone in your home.

Seasonal Comfort Preferences

There are some temperature recommendations for the different seasons. Using these can help to save on energy while still keeping your home comfortable.

In the winter, you can change the temperature depending on the time of day for comfort and efficiency. The common temperature recommendation is 68 degrees Fahrenheit. During the night when you are sleeping, you can set the thermostat to 58 to 62 if this is comfortable for your family.

During the summer, the recommendation is 78 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. You can raise it a bit when you are not home to further reduce your energy usage. At night, you can increase the temperature to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If this is too warm, consider opening some windows to reduce the temperature in your home with the cooler night air.

Energy Efficiency Considerations

Smart or programmable thermostats can help you to keep a comfortable temperature while being as energy efficient as possible. Schedule your thermostat temperatures so that you can optimize energy usage in your home.

You should also make sure that you keep humidity under control in your home. This is especially important in the summer when excess humidity can make your home feel hotter than it truly is. Inside your home, you want your humidity levels to range between 30 and 50 percent.

Regional Climate Factors

Roseville winters can get very cold, so it is not uncommon to turn the thermostat up a few degrees on the coldest days to stay comfortable. However, have a professional check your insulation and heating system. They will ensure that everything is up to standard so that you do not have to crank it up too much to stay comfortable.

When it is hot outside, combine ventilation with your HVAC unit to efficiently regulate your home’s temperature. You can turn the thermostat down a few degrees during the hot afternoons and then turn it back up a bit during the cooler mornings and evenings. Closing the curtains when the sun it out can also help to keep your home cooler.

During moderate temperatures, open windows and doors to help keep your home more comfortable. This is typically ideal in the late spring and early fall when you might not need to run your HVAC system during certain parts of the day.

Personal Considerations

Think about the individual temperature preferences of the people living in your home. From here, you can usually establish an average that everyone will be happy with. When everyone is sleeping, you can usually make it a bit cooler since everyone can use a blanket. Also, most people sleep better in a slightly cooler environment.

Consider times when no one is usually home at your home. During the summer, you can turn the thermostat up a few degrees. Turn it down a few degrees in the winter. This will save you on energy. Since you are only adjusting the temperature a few degrees, it will not take long to get back to your desired temperature when you return home. If you have a smart or programmable thermostat, you can have it adjust the temperature for you as necessary.

Tips for Saving Energy

No matter the outside temperature, there are a few quick things you can do so that you can run your thermostat at a more efficient temperature while still being comfortable. During the winter months, use blankets and layers so that you can set the temperature lower, but still remain comfortable. In the summer months, use your ceiling fans so that you can increase your thermostat a few degrees and it will not get too hot. Just make sure that the fan is turning in a counterclockwise direction.

Check for air leaks around your home. These are most common around your windows and doors. When you ensure proper insulation, you are able to maintain a comfortable space without needing to put the thermostat at an inefficient temperature. This is important during the cold and warm months.

Maintaining Your Thermostat

To make sure that your HVAC system is functioning at the temperature that you set, you need to keep your thermostat in good working order. You should have a professional come and perform routine HVAC maintenance about once a year. During this time, they can also inspect and maintain your thermostat. They will generally clean the sensors, replace the batteries and calibrate it as part of the maintenance process. Updating the programming for a programmable thermostat, updating the software for a smart thermostat and checking the wiring are also common maintenance tasks.

Have a professional seal any gaps around the thermostat’s base and ensure that it has the proper placement. Both of these factors can affect temperature readings if there is a problem. If splashes or excess dust are a concern, a professional might also recommend that you use a thermostat cover to protect it.

HVAC Professionals in Roseville

Choosing the right temperature for your thermostat ensures that you are as comfortable as possible when you are at your Roseville home. Our team can help you choose the right thermostat for your space and determine the ideal temperature. We can help with your other HVAC needs too, including maintenance, repairs, replacements and new installations.

Contact C & C Heating & Air Conditioning in Roseville to get the facts about proper thermostat temperature.

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