As the bitter winter weather starts to bite and temperatures outside plummet further, it’s natural to want to crank your thermostat up even higher to keep up. In the past, this is exactly what I have done.
But HVAC pros warn this outdated heating myth is actually spiking your bills for no gain, and in fact, only wasting energy. That's why I've stopped adjusting my smart thermostat and letting my HVAC system work in tandem with it as it should. We've been exceptionally comfortable for the last six weeks as a result.
Here, experts debunk the idea that dialling the thermostat up when it suddenly gets even colder outside will better keep your house warm all day, and reveal what to do instead to balance comfort and energy costs.
Why You Shouldn’t Crank the Thermostat Up When It Gets Colder Outside
Caleb Caviness, manager of AryCo, provides HVAC, electrical, and plumbing services and often warns his clients about outdated heating rules, as they can potentially destroy parts or a whole system.
One myth, Caleb explains, is that you need to increase the thermostat setting at home because it’s suddenly colder. He says, ‘Most people will turn the heat up when it gets colder than it usually is outside. The reason why this might not be a good idea is that in some areas, such as North Texas, most homes use heat pumps, which are good for slow, sustained heating.
‘When you increase the thermostat by more than 2-3 degrees, the system triggers an auxiliary heat system, which usually consists of heat strips. These strips are essentially a giant toaster for your attic, and they use 3-4 times more electricity than the pump and cost you hundreds on your electricity bill.’
Instead, Caleb advises that you pick a temperature for your thermostat and leave it at that at all times. He adds, ‘Your HVAC system will adjust accordingly if the outside temperature drops below the usual outside.’
Avoiding unnecessary energy waste is better for the planet, too, and will help you be more sustainable at home.
Why Steady Temperatures Work, Even When Temperatures Drop Outside
Keeping your home at an ambient and comfortable temperature, such as the new heating standard of 68-70° Fahrenheit, around the clock uses less energy overall than a lower one. This is because modern homes with good insulation types are adept at keeping the heat in and drafts out, resulting in the JVAC system needing shorter run cycles.
I tested the new heating standard, which is recommended by the World Health Organisation to avoid respiratory illnesses in winter, in my home for the last six weeks and found that my bills have stayed the same, despite the temperatures plummeting outside over the last week.
Now it is snowing where I live, and my smart thermostat, which saves me money and my family’s comfort indoors, hasn’t budged. The only tweak we have had to make to sleep better since setting my smart thermostat up from the outdated 66°F heating rule is to dial down the radiators in our bedroom from a maximum setting of six, down to two.
This has stopped our upper floors from overheating and disrupting our sleep, whilst also limiting how much hot water our HVAC system needs to pump through the upstairs radiators.
This one change has offset any rise in bills we might have expected, even through a recent snowstorm that otherwise would have chilled us to the core.
Josh Mitchell, HVAC technician and founder of Air Conditioner Lab adds, ‘There are a lot of heating “rules” people still follow that made sense years ago but don’t really work for modern homes, especially with current energy costs.
'Turning the thermostat way up to heat the house faster is still very common, but it doesn’t warm the house any quicker and usually just wastes energy.'
In conclusion, keeping your home warm doesn’t have to cause your bills to spike, and you certainly don’t have to turn up the dial just because it is now colder outside in January than in most other months of the year.
What to Shop
A smart thermostat can shave hundreds off energy bills as it switches your HVAC system on and off according to the ambient temperature, maintaining a constant comfortable climate without having to run the heating constantly.
A heated blanket to warm up your bed on cold winter nights, making it easy to settle down and sleep without cranking the heat further. This one has timer settings, and some parts are machine washable.
Protect exposed pipes from the cold weather with this insulating tape. It's easy to install and will prevent the water in your pipes from freezing, which can lead to slow or sudden leaks that can be costly to repair, and may lead to mold and other issues.
If your windows are drafty, adding window film is a quick and easy way to increase the insulation and reduce drafts. This will mean the heating in your home stays inside it, rather than escaping, and cold air transfer is limited, improving efficiency.
If you have floor heating vents, don't close them in unused rooms. Instead, use heat deflectors to help push the heat directly into other areas of your home, rather than being lost to window drafts and cold walls.
Keeping an eye on your home's humidity levels can help you reduce the risk of mold by ventilating, turning the heating up, or using shock ventilation and dehumidifiers. This hydrometer and thermostat also alerts you to risky heat or humidity levels.
Meet the Experts
Staying warm in cold snaps is just one part of the bigger picture for winter fuel needs.
Prepping your home for an emergency, snowstorm, or power cut could prove to be a lifesaver in an emergency, as well as knowing how to heat your home in an outage.
