Q&A for How to Set a Thermostat

Return to Full Article

Coming soon

Add New Question

Question

What is common low-cost setting for cooling on thermostat?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

The common low temperature setting for regions where it gets in the 90s is 78 degrees.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 35
Question

When I set the temperature for air conditioning, does a higher temperature lead to less cooling?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

Yes, when setting a higher temperature, this will lead to less cooling.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 9 Helpful 35
Question

How should you set your thermostat in the winter?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

When you’re at home during the daytime, try to keep the thermostat set between 68° and 72° F (20-22° C). At night or when you’re away, set it to 62-66° F (17-19° C).

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 9 Helpful 18
Question

What’s a good temperature setting for a thermostat in the summer?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends keeping your thermostat at 78° F (26° C) while you’re at home to stay cool and save money and energy. To be even more energy efficient, any time you’re away for more than 2 hours, set it to 88° F (31° C).

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 8
Question

If a thermostat is set high, will it just stay on until the temperature is reached, or will it stop at a certain level if the insulation in the home is not good enough to retain the heat?

Community Answer

It will continue to heat/cool your house until it reaches the desired temperature; if the desired temperature cannot be reached, it will continue to cool/heat your house. A "smart" thermostat, such as the Nest, could potentially tell you your house couldn't get that hot/cold. It also can warn you about other things, such as energy consumption, how long it would take to heat/cool the house etc.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 9 Helpful 27
Question

Once I set the heat to a certain temperature, is it supposed to maintain that temperature without letting it drop as outside temperatures drop?

Community Answer

Correct.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 8 Helpful 37
Question

Why is my air conditioning not blowing cold air?

Community Answer

It probably froze up - see if the lines have ice around them. If so, run the heat until they thaw out and then turn on the AC. Also, if you set your temperature too low, your unit will not turn off, thus causing it to freeze. Try putting the temperature to 71 after it has thawed out. If your unit still isn't blowing cold air, you might be low on freon.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 5 Helpful 18
Question

What temperature should I set the air conditioning on?

Community Answer

That is an incredibly subjective question with a lot of factors to consider. You'll want to think about outside temperature, personal comfort level, and how much money you want to spend heating and cooling your house, among other things.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 15 Helpful 28
Question

How do I set a thermostat to cool?

Community Answer

Look at the settings on your thermostat and either adjust the temperature so it goes down or select the "cool" setting.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 19 Helpful 27
Question

What temperature is good for heating a home?

Community Answer

It depends on your personal preferences, but 75 degrees is a pretty average temperature for heating the house.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 11 Helpful 17
Question

I have no air conditioning. When setting the fan to "on" and "cool," does it just circulate the inside air, or does it bring in air from the outside?

Community Answer

It just circulates the air inside the room. Since you do not have an AC, the settings for "on and "cool" will just circulate the air in the room to make the air cooler.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3
Question

Exactly what does changing the furnace type setting from gas to water to oil to high efficiency do? I'm hoping to find that one allows the blower to run longer.

Community Answer

All thermostats use an anticipator setting: it shuts off the heat before the set temperature is reached. The heat takes time to reach the thermostat. Different systems have different heat flow patterns, so you must tell the thermostat. The blower adjustment is at the furnace. Ask an expert, unless you are an expert.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3
Question

Should the upstairs temperature be set same as downstairs for air conditioning?

Community Answer

The two respective temperature settings rely on the outside temperature and integrity of the system design & installation. As cold air falls to the floor and down stairways, the top floor should be set the lowest, since the attic heat impinges on the room temperature; test this idea by standing on a chair to feel the temperature difference between the the ceiling level and your standing floor level. But, once you have the top floor at your comfort level, depending on the system design, set the lower levels accordingly to your comfort level.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1
Question

How do I turn off the timer so that I can set the thermostat manually?

Community Answer

My Honeywell programmable thermostat has a "hold" button. This allows you to set a desired temperature, and the thermostat will "hold" at that temperature. After the hold is canceled, the programmed set time and temperature will resume to the prior setting.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 2
Question

Can I turn the setting on cold and leave the fan off?

Community Answer

Yes, but it may lead to higher energy consumption, and more maintenance cost on your unit.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1
Question

My heat is not kicking on when I set the temperature. What should I do?

Community Answer

It sounds like you need to call an HVAC tech.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 2
Question

How do I replace Freon?

Community Answer

Freon has to be professionally evacuated by a HVAC licensed technician. Then the system has to be dried and recharged.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 1