The short answer? Yes.
According to energy experts, you can save a decent amount on your annual heating bill by simply adjusting your thermostat before you head to bed.
BUT there is a right way to do it.
Why It Saves Money
There is a common misconception that your furnace has to “work harder” to bring the temperature back up, thus consuming more energy. In reality, a furnace runs at the same speed regardless of the target temperature.
When your home is cooler, it loses heat to the outdoors more slowly than a warm home does. By keeping your home at a lower temperature for several hours, you reduce the total amount of energy lost, meaning your furnace doesn’t have to cycle on as often throughout the night.
The “Magic Number”: How Many Degrees?
You don’t need to turn your home into a walk-in freezer to see the benefits. For the perfect balance of comfort and cost-savings, aim to lower your thermostat by 3°C to 5°C (about 5°F to 9°F) from your usual daytime setting.
- Example: If you keep your home at 21°C during the day, try setting it to 17°C or 18°C while you sleep.
When Is It Not a Good Idea?
While saving money is great, there are two factors to keep in mind:
- Insulation Quality: If your home is poorly insulated, it will lose heat rapidly. If the temperature drops too low, your furnace might have to run for a very long stretch in the morning to catch up.
- Heat Pumps: If you have an air-source heat pump, “set it and forget it” is often the better rule. Frequent, large temperature swings can sometimes cause heat pumps to use their less efficient backup heating strips to reach the target temperature quickly.
How to Automate Your Savings
The best way to ensure you never forget to turn the heat down is to let technology do it for you.
- Programmable Thermostats: Set a schedule so the heat drops at 11:00 PM and starts climbing again at 6:00 AM, so you wake up to a cozy house.
- Smart Thermostats: These learn your habits and can even detect when you’ve left the house, adjusting the temperature automatically for maximum efficiency.
Other Ways to Stay Warm While Saving
If you’re worried about feeling the chill at night, try these tips:
- Flannel Sheets: Swap out your summer linens for heavier winter fabrics.
- Seal the Leaks: Check for drafts around windows and doors, if heat is escaping, your furnace is working harder than it needs to.
- Annual Maintenance: A clean, well-tuned furnace runs more efficiently, period.
Ready to Optimize Your Home Comfort?
If you want to install a smart thermostat or ensure your furnace is running at peak efficiency this winter, Team Harding is here to help.
