optimal home temperature ranges

Optimal Home Temperature Ranges for Varying Situations

Whether it’s through quality heating repair during the cold months, air conditioner installation and maintenance during the summer or any area in between, the team at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical is here to help you and your family stay comfortable in your home throughout the year. Modern technology allows for better control over temperature and air quality than ever before, and we’ll allow you to experience this in full without running up a high utility bill.

Given this capability, many of our clients ask us a simple question: What is the optimal temperature for my home? The answer may depend on a few things, including your own comfort thresholds. Here are some general temperature ranges based on a few different themes or life situations you may relate to.

Day-to-Day Life

To combine daily comfort with general energy and money savings, the general recommendation for thermostat setting in the home is between 68 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit (we’ll use Fahrenheit for the remainder of this post). Where you sit within this range largely depends on where you and others in your home are comfortable.

If you’re the type who requires colder temperatures to be comfortable, there are some other resources available to you to help stay cooler without running up a big bill. Use ceiling fans, for instance, to keep air flowing. Also consider using curtains and other shade formats to block the sun’s natural light during peak hours.

Babies and Infants

If you have a new child in the home, the temperature range is generally a bit lower. Babies do best between roughly 65 and 74 degrees – if you’re concerned about their temperature, feel their ears or chest to see if they’re too hot or cold, then adjust from there.

Pet Owners

If you’re a dog or cat owner, the most common household pets, you don’t have to deviate much or at all from your day-to-day temperature plan. These animals tend to do just fine within that 68 to 78 range, and even a wider one in many cases.

If you happen to have rarer pets like fish or amphibians, on the other hand, do some research on their proper temperature. If they require hotter temperatures, consider a heat lamp for their enclosure.

Sleep Range

The National Sleep Foundation generally recommends that humans sleep with the temperature between 60 and 67 degrees. This is because body temperature drops during sleep, so a slight drop in temperature can help you fall and stay asleep.

Vacation or Trips

When you leave the home unoccupied for any significant period of time, you can set the thermostat to much more extreme ranges to save money. During the summer, the thermostat can stay as high as 85 to 88 degrees, or even off completely in many homes. During winter, keep temperatures between 50 and 55 degrees while leaving town – this will save you money, but also won’t allow for any water to freeze within your pipes and cause problems.

For more on the ideal temperature ranges for various situations, or to learn about any of our heating and air or pluming services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.