We probably don’t need to tell you how chilly winters can get in Vermont during January and February. If you’ve already lived here for at least one winter, you should have all the first-hand experience with it you’ll ever need! The heating system in your home will put in a great deal of labor over the next few months, and you can expect an increase in your home’s utility bills.
However, that increase may not need to be so high. Something as simple as taking precautions with how you set the thermostat in your home can make a significant difference in your heating costs, saving anywhere from 5% to 20% over the winter.
Recommended thermostat settings
The U.S. Department of Energy advises that homeowners set their thermostats to 68°F in the winter when people are awake in the house. This temperature is comfortable for the majority of people (it may need to be higher for homes with infants or the elderly), and it will remove a significant strain off the heating system. When people are asleep in the house, or if the house is untenanted, you should program a temperature setback of 8° to 10°F.
(If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, we strongly advise you invest in one. An up-to-date thermostat is one of the best ways to maximize energy use with a heating system without making comfort sacrifices.)
There’s a good reason to keep a steady, lower temperatures in your home. First, the higher the temperature indoors, the faster the house loses heat, and this is extremely wasteful. At a lower temperature, the heat indoors will remain more stable. Second, high thermostat settings do not result in the house receiving heat any faster: the thermostat only controls when the heating system turns on and off, so pushing the setting up to 90°F only means that the heater will run for longer… and end up making the house too hot.
Red Rock Mechanical LLC is here for your heating needs this winter in Plattsburgh, NY. We offer 24-hour emergency service.
