Winters in the Bay Area tend to be mild, but you will still probably run your furnace constantly. That can get expensive, especially if you have an older furnace or have neglected to schedule a winter furnace inspection for a few years. Fortunately, you can lower your heating bills a bit if you know the best winter thermostat settings for Bay Area homes.
The Best Winter Thermostat Settings Keep You Warm and Save You Money
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the most efficient winter thermostat setting for homes in Oakland or the East Bay is 68 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re home and awake. When you’re asleep or there’s nobody home, you can lower your thermostat by 10 degrees or more.
These recommendations might be a little cooler than you’re used to, and comfort depends on who you are and what temperatures are comfortable for you. And you may wish to crank up the temperature if you’re trying to keep warm on a particularly cold day. Add to that the age of many Bay Area homes. Older homes have old insulation in the walls and could still have single-pane windows. Both of these will leak heat.
If temperatures in the 60s inside feel too cold for you, there are things that might make you feel a little more comfortable.
- Lower the temperature in your home slowly. If you’re not used to keeping things cooler, bring the temperature down by one degree every week until you get to the ideal 68-degree setting.
- Seal air leaks around windows and doors to keep your home from constantly feeling too cold in the winter.
- Wear warmer clothes. This should be a given in the winter, but not everyone takes this into consideration when they’re just sitting at home. Putting on an old sweater or some wool socks makes a big difference, and it can lower your heating bills.
- Install a programmable thermostat, if you haven’t already. Programmable thermostats keep your utility bills manageable. And they definitely come in handy if you don’t want to constantly adjust the temperature in your home. Simply program your thermostat to raise the temperature to 68 degrees when everyone is home and lower it when people are asleep or away.
The latest thermostat models also offer remote access via phone app. So if you wish to raise the temperature in advance of arriving home early from work or a trip, you can!
Contact Element Home Solutions About Programmable Thermostats
If you struggle to keep your Bay Area home feeling comfortable in the winter without raising your heating bills, contact Element Home Solutions for advice. We can help you find the ideal thermostat setting for the winter and complete some much-needed heater maintenance to keep your furnace or heat pump systems running efficiently all winter long.
