The end-of-year holidays are the perfect time to gather with friends and family. However, a house full of people, a bustling kitchen, and continuous door-opening can wreak havoc on your heating bill if you don’t manage your thermostat strategically.

Follow these 5 simple tips to keep your guests cozy and your energy use under control.

1. Program for the Preheat (Not the Party)

Resist the urge to crank up the heat right before guests arrive. Your furnace often works hardest to recover from sharp temperature drops, and the human presence will naturally raise the temperature.

  • do thisSet your thermostat to your desired “party temperature” (often 68∘F) about one to two hours before the first guest arrives. Once the party is underway, body heat from multiple people can raise the indoor temperature by 3∘F to 5∘F.

2. Leverage the Kitchen’s Free Heat

If your holiday plans involve extensive cooking and baking, your oven and stovetop are providing a massive source of free auxiliary heat.

  • do thisWhile the oven is running, lower your thermostat by two to four degrees. Since the heat radiates throughout your home, especially on an open-plan main floor, your furnace won’t need to cycle as often. After the meal is done, let the oven door stand slightly ajar (after turning it off, of course) for a few minutes to release the residual heat, maximizing its benefit.

3. Use Zone Control Strategically

If your home utilizes a zoned heating system, it’s a powerful tool during the holidays. You likely have areas you want to keep warm (the main living and dining rooms) and areas that can be cooler (guest bedrooms, basements, or storage rooms).

  • do thisLower the temperature in zones that are not being used for the party. If you have overnight guests, use a lower setback temperature for their rooms until about an hour before they plan to retire. Alternatively, simply close the air vents and doors in unused spaces to direct conditioned air where it’s needed most.

4. Create an Overnight “Setback” Schedule

Whether you have guests staying or just a long night of socializing, the sleeping hours are prime time for energy savings. A comfortable sleeping temperature is often much cooler than a socializing temperature.

  • do thisProgram a “setback” temperature—typically around 62∘F to 65∘F—to take effect after midnight or whenever you expect the party to wind down. If you have a smart thermostat, use its scheduling feature to automatically raise the temperature back to your standard morning setting about 30 minutes before everyone wakes up.

5. Account for In-and-Out Traffic

The constant opening and closing of doors—guests arriving, guests leaving, kids playing outside—can cause your furnace to kick into overdrive unnecessarily.

  • do thisBefore the party, prepare by sealing drafts around primary entry doors with a draft stopper (a simple towel works in a pinch). If your party involves using the garage, try to keep the main door leading from the house to the garage closed as much as possible, as the garage is often an unconditioned, chilly space.

By following these simple thermostat adjustments, you can keep the holiday spirit high and your heating costs low.

Similar Posts