Friday, January 27, 2012

How low can we set the thermostat on our furnace to save money on our heating bills?


We are often asked by our customers “How low can we set the thermostat on our furnace to save money on our heating bills?”

Obviously, you save more money the less your equipment operates. So, how cold can you stand it in your Hampton Roads home?

Are you a Scrooge and want to keep it 40°F in the house? There is a limit.

When a furnace is operating, all of the combustion gases are just that – gases. You don’t want any of them to condense into a liquid while in the primary heat exchanger or vent. With that in mind, manufacturers recommend keeping the temperature above 60°F.

What happens if the gases condense in your furnace or vent? When they condense, they form acids. These acids will eat the metal in the vent and heat exchanger. This will shorten the life of your system.

What’s the answer? Set your thermostat as low as you can bear but keep it above 60°F in the winter.

The bottom line is your budget and comfort. Also, if your house is well insulated and weather sealed, your bills will be reduced and your comfort optimized. Our local utility company suggests 68°F as a good budget temperature and a few degrees higher if you have small children or elderly adults in the home because they require slightly warmer temps.