Is It Better to Leave Heat on or Off When You’re Not Home?

Whether it’s better to leave your heat on or off while you’re away from home has been hotly debated for as long as heating technology has been around.

In our professional opinion, we do believe that it’s beneficial to lower the temperature by 7-10 degrees while you’re away from home. After all, there’s no need to heat an empty home. Experts estimate that lowering the temperature by as little as 7 degrees while you’re away can cut up to 10% off your energy bill, which can really lower your household expenses in the long term.

Of course, the amount you save will depend on the type of system you have. Electric baseboards, an oil furnace, or other less efficient forms of heating technology can very quickly cause your energy bill to spike. This is especially true during the cold winter months because these older forms of heating technology need to work much harder to start up and get the whole house heated evenly. *For safety’s sake, please never leave these turned on while you’re not at home. Doing so could result in a house fire.

The Answer is… Yes – If You Are Using Newer Heating Technology

The larger answer to the question of whether you should leave heat on or off while you’re away for the day is, it depends. If you’re using a Daikin indoor or outdoor heat pump or other modern system with a programmable thermostat, you’re much more likely to lower your energy consumption. Read more about lowering heat pump operation costs here.

The effectiveness of the insulation in and around your home, types of windows, and any leaks or drafts also factor into the efficiency of your home.

If your house isn’t evenly heated or you’re watching your energy bills climb higher every year, we highly recommend upgrading to a heat pump, geo-exchange system or a ductless split system. Efficient and practical, these technologies can also increase your home’s resale value and provide an impressive return on investment.

Technology Helps Decrease Energy Consumption

Today’s heating systems are incredibly simple to use and maintain too. With a programmable thermostat or a smart thermostat, you can set your heating schedule to fit your lifestyle. Set it to lower the temperature when you leave for work or school and increase it to your usual comfortable temperature by the end of the day.

For best results, you’d want to set your thermostat to start heating the house back up about an hour before you arrive home. You can also reduce the temperature at night before bed and let the heating kick in about an hour before you wake up. On many programmable thermostats, the “default” mode will take care of this for you.

Also, with today’s Smart technology, you can even control your thermostat from your phone using Wi-Fi or data. Smart devices like Nest or Google Home can “learn” your routine and habits and automatically adjust the temperature when you come and go. This is a lot more energy efficient than constant adjustments to your thermostat since turning it on and off and constantly adjusting the temperature can cause your HVAC system to run inefficiently.

Temperature zones are another way to increase energy efficiency. Using a custom created design, you can choose which areas of the home to heat or cool. Is the basement too cold? Create a heating zone. Prefer the baby’s room to be a bit warmer? It can have its own zone too.

Rooms that don’t need as much heating, like the kitchen— often warmed by running appliances, can be set to remain at a cooler temperature so you don’t have all that extra heat while the oven is on.

Or, if you’re working from home and aren’t using the rest of the house during the workday, it makes more sense to lower the temperature settings in other areas of the home. Zone programming is the ultimate climate control inside your home.

Tips for Efficient Heating

Stick to temperatures close in range – A temperature of 20-22 ˚C while you’re at home and around 17 ˚C when you’re away for the day will keep your home evenly heated, without needing to drastically lower or raise the settings on the thermostat.

Keep doors closed – Whenever possible, keep doors closed to trap warmth inside.

Check for drafts and leaks – As mentioned above, drafts and leaks can have an impact on your home’s energy efficiency. Learn how to guard against drafts here.

Use thermal window coverings – Insulating blinds, shades, shutters and curtains prevent heat from escaping through your windows and frames, increasing your home’s energy efficiency

Clean and replace air filters regularly – Filters that are dirty make your heating system work harder than it needs to. Replace your filter every 90 days, or every 60 days if you have pets in the home. Any visible dirt on the vents or a musty odour signals that it’s time to replace the filter.

Keep your heating device well-maintained – When you change your air filters, it’s a good idea to check the ducts, connections and vents for any issues. Learn more here.

Upgrade your heating system- No matter how diligently you maintain your system and monitor your usage, nothing is as energy conscious as a new heating system. If you’re doing everything right and your bills are still rising, our team at Lockhart Industries can help.

Let your thermostat gradually increase or decrease the temperature – When you crank the settings up or down, it causes the HVAC system to work inefficiently.

Change the temperature settings when you’ll be away for 8 or more hours- Give your home about an hour to warm back up to your optimal temperature before you get home.

Don’t constantly change the temperature settings when you’re at home – This also causes the system to work inefficiently.

Island owned and operated for over 45 years, trust Lockhart Industries to provide your home or business with the most efficient and convenient heating and cooling solutions available on the market today. Whether you want to tap in on your home’s geothermal potential or install a heat pump at your small business, Lockhart Industries provides fast and friendly service from Duncan to Victoria. Contact us today for a free estimate.