My family seems to think that turning the heat up well past the temperature they actually want it to be makes the house heat up more quickly — and I say it doesn’t. So who’s right?
A furnace only has two heat settings — on and off. It doesn’t work like a volume control, more like a mute button — it’s either running full bore or not running at all. Regardless of whether you set the thermostat for 68 or 85, it will take the same amount of time to heat the house from 60 to 68 degrees.
For the record, this also is true for air conditioning — the A/C is either on or off. Setting it to 60 won’t cool it down from 85 any faster than setting it for 75. By using your thermostat correctly and intelligently, you will still be able to bring your home to a comfortable temperature without dramatically inflating your energy bills.
So yes, just set the thermostat for the temperature you want it to be in the house.
Other tips
Of course, although the furnace may only run at one speed and heat level, there are some things you can do to help your heating/cooling situation.
Close the doors and windows. I know this is kind of a “…duh?” statement, but double check before you fire up the heat or A/C.
Close the blinds. They can help keep heat in — or out, depending on the season. Also, consider energy-saving curtains with special insulation liners. They can help control room temperature for a relatively inexpensive investment.
Check your insulation. Still got the original insulation from when your house was built 40 years ago? Yeah, you might want to have some new stuff added. Most older homes can greatly benefit from having an additional layer of blown-in insulation added.
Check for leaks. When the wind blows, can you feel it come through your closed window? Might want to grab a tube of caulk and seal that up a bit.
Upgrade your windows. Single pane windows keep the rain and dust out, but that’s about it. They’re almost useless from an insulation standpoint.
It is hot in here?
A furnace only has two heat settings — on and off. It doesn’t work like a volume control, more like a mute button — it’s either running full bore or not running at all. Regardless of whether you set the thermostat for 68 or 85, it will take the same amount of time to heat the house from 60 to 68 degrees.
For the record, this also is true for air conditioning — the A/C is either on or off. Setting it to 60 won’t cool it down from 85 any faster than setting it for 75. By using your thermostat correctly and intelligently, you will still be able to bring your home to a comfortable temperature without dramatically inflating your energy bills.
So yes, just set the thermostat for the temperature you want it to be in the house.
Other tips
Of course, although the furnace may only run at one speed and heat level, there are some things you can do to help your heating/cooling situation.
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