How hot is too hot for a house?
In general, it's safe to increase indoor temperature up to 80 degrees in summer and decrease indoor air temperature to 55 degrees in winter, but there are exceptions - for example, if you live with a baby or an elderly or immune-compromised individual.
While many homeowners may say that they set their home temperature to 72 degrees in the summer, the Department of Energy states that number is too low and recommends setting your home to 78 degrees during the summer.
Ideally you should heat your home to a temperature of at least 18 °C. This is particularly important if you have reduced mobility, are 65 or over, or have a health condition, such as heart or lung disease.
The safest, most environmental, surest treatment is to raise house temperature to 120 - 130 degrees for about 4-6 hours.
The Safest Temperature for Humans and Pets
Heat can be dangerous, so you don't want to let your home get too hot. The absolute highest you should set your thermostat is around 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Keeping your air conditioning higher than this will let your home heat up quite a bit.
Sleep experts believe the best temperature for great sleep is between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit. But in addition to making you uncomfortable and interfering with healthy sleep patterns, being too hot at any time of day or night can cause health risks like dehydration and heat stroke.
Be careful to keep your home from becoming too warm. Not only are warm temperatures potentially dangerous to people and pets, but to soft surfaces like drywall. As temperatures increase, humidity often does too, causing things like drywall, door and window frames to retain moisture.
Start by setting your thermostat higher than normal when you are away, and at 78 degrees when you are home. That is the Department of Energy's recommended setting when you need cooling, but want to save energy.
Experts suggest an air temperature between about 66 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit is optimal for sleeping. However, your ideal sleep temperature may depend on personal factors such as the type of bed coverings you use and whether you sleep nude or semi-nude.
Older adults can overheat at 80 degrees. Their internal temperatures can drop enough to be dangerous when the house feels cool, not cold to others. Below 70 indoors is risky for some.
What temp should bedroom be for sleeping?
The best room temperature for sleep is approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18.3 degrees Celsius). This may vary by a few degrees from person to person, but most doctors recommend keeping the thermostat set between 60 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 to 20 degrees Celsius) for the most comfortable sleep.
If you seriously want to avoid mold in your home then avoid rooms cooling completely. Experts recommend that the ideal temperature for living rooms is 20°C, 23°C for the bathroom and children's rooms, and 16C for the bedroom and kitchen. It is recommended that you never let the temperature of your home fall below 14°C.
So no matter how long you'll be away, the setting that's best for home maintenance is 85 degrees in the summer and 50 degrees in the winter. You might be tempted by a few dollars more in energy savings, but it's simply not worth the risk of doing expensive damage throughout your entire home.
If indoor temperatures got above 80, 85, or 90 degrees Fahrenheit, residents got an alert that would, ideally, nudge them into taking action to protect themselves from heatstroke.
However, the greater the heat loss from your home, the more energy you will need to maintain the inside temperature, which means that the cost of leaving your heating on all the time will be especially expensive. That's why ensuring your home is well-insulated is vital to minimise this heat loss.
They recommend that when it's 90 degrees outside, you should try setting your air conditioning thermostat at 80 degrees or higher. And when it's 95 to 100 degrees outside (and higher), you should set your thermostat at 85 degrees or higher.
The temperature of your home can dramatically impact the quality of your sleep, as your body will wake itself up if it's too hot or too cold. Thus, we recommend the following as the best thermostat settings for bedtime: 65 °F in winter. 78 °F in summer.
Dogs cannot be housed in temperatures above 85 °F for more than 4 consecutive hours. If the temperature rises above 85 °F for any length of time, you must provide additional ventilation such as fans, blowers, or air conditioning.
The air conditioning should always be switched off at night or programmed to switch off after one or two hours. That way, it helps you get to sleep without the risk of the room becoming too cold through the night.
The best temperature for sleeping in summer is said to be between 60° and 67°F. Opening the windows while you sleep is a good solution if you live in an area that cools down overnight.
How do you fall asleep when it's too hot?
- Trick your body. ...
- Prepare your room before bedtime. ...
- Use a fan. ...
- Update your bedding. ...
- Try quick cooling tricks. ...
- Don't forget general sleep hygiene.
- Quick, shallow breathing.
- Heavy sweating and thirst.
- Muscle cramps.
- Headache and irritability.
- Elevated body temperature and heart rate.
- Weak, quick pulse.
- Moist, cool skin. Pale skin color.
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
In hot weather, inadequate cooling can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which can also be very dangerous. Additionally, extreme temperatures in the home can exacerbate certain health conditions such as respiratory problems or cardiovascular issues.
- Switch to CFL or LED Bulbs. ...
- Hang Dry Clothes and Handwash Dishes. ...
- Limit Hot Meals. ...
- Invest in a Misting Fan. ...
- Shut Off Computers and Screens More Frequently. ...
- Switch to Insulated Curtains or Honeycomb Blinds. ...
- Create Natural Convection. ...
- Create a Cross Breeze.
While You're Sleeping: 70-Plus Degrees
As a compromise, 70-plus degrees is a good setting. Like we recommended for finding a comfortable temperature during the day, set your thermostat high and gradually lower it over a week.
References
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16425-heat-illness
- https://palmetto.com/learning-center/blog/recommended-thermostat-settings-for-each-season
- https://www.uswitch.com/energy-efficiency/heating-on-all-the-time/
- https://www.onehourheatandair.com/articles/expert-tips/thermostats/consider-thermostat-settings-carefully-for-vacan/
- https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/your-home/keeping-your-home-warm-in-winter
- https://www.newair.com/blogs/learn/how-to-cool-a-room-fast-and-keep-it-that-way
- https://www.carrier.com/residential/en/us/products/air-conditioners/best-temperature-for-ac/
- https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/tips-for-sleeping-without-air-conditioning/
- https://www.airfiltersdelivered.com/blogs/helpful-tips/best-temperature-for-ac
- https://www.viessmann.co.uk/en/heating-advice/boilers/6-mold-prevention-tips-for-a-healthy-home.html
- https://www.sleepfoundation.org/bedroom-environment/best-temperature-for-sleep
- https://blog.expertsinyourhome.com/the-best-way-to-set-your-air-conditioning-thermostat-in-high-temps
- https://hansensupertechs.com/what-is-the-ideal-temperature-for-home-air-conditioning-in-the-summer/
- https://www.aireserv.com/expert-tips/hvac-tips-and-tricks/house-temperature-faq/
- https://diamondblueair.com/is-72-a-good-temperature-for-air-conditioning/
- https://heatmap.news/climate/indoor-heat-temperatures-inside-study
- https://sleepdoctor.com/sleep-hygiene/best-temperature-for-sleep/
- https://www.ariston.com/en-sa/the-comfort-way/tips-and-tricks/sleeping-with-air-conditioning-on
- https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2403857/how-hot-can-i-make-it-with-gas-furnace
- https://www.quora.com/Can-I-get-sick-from-not-heating-or-cooling-the-house-properly
- https://www.bloomingtonheating.com/what-temperature-should-my-ac-be-set-to-in-summer/
- https://www.deseret.com/indepth/2021/3/13/22321987/why-heat-cold-and-other-weather-kills-older-adults-and-how-to-keep-loved-ones-safe
- https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_welfare/ac-tech-note-temp-req-dogs.pdf
- https://time.com/6291185/how-to-sleep-when-its-hot/