Learn to Recognize Unhealthy Heat from Your Thermostat

As winter comes to Ohio, you’re doing everything you can to keep warm. When temperatures drop below freezing, 80 degrees sounds nice, so it can be tempting to crank the thermostat up as high as it will go. However, not only does that waste energy, it’s bad for your health. Here are some of the problems caused by unhealthy heat.

Unhealthy Heat Problems

Many people think that cranking the thermostat up higher will warm their house faster. However, furnaces don’t work this way. Rather, it simply means the system will run longer, using more energy and creating unhealthy heat. Once the house does reach that higher temperature, however, it can cause problems.

Humidity in Ohio can get very high in winter. High humidity combined with high temperatures makes it difficult for sweat to evaporate. Sweat evaporation is how your body regulates its temperature, so without it, it’s easy to overheat. People most at risk include those with high blood pressure or heart, lung, or kidney disease, as well as seniors and people taking certain medications.

If you or any of your family fit into one of these categories, you might consider a whole-home dehumidifier. It allows you to regulate your home’s humidity levels to keep them healthy. It’s particularly helpful during cold and flu season, as high humidity can foster bacteria and viruses.

Ideal Thermostat Temperature

To stay comfortable and healthy without wasting energy, your ideal thermostat temperature in winter is 68 degrees. If that’s too cold, turn it up slowly, one degree at a time, until you reach the temperature that’s comfortable for you.

When you’re out of the house or asleep, lower the thermostat to between 55 and 60 degrees to save energy. You can reduce your heating bills by up to 15% that way. If you’re going on vacation, set it to 50 degrees while you’re gone to lower your energy bills even more while also preventing your pipes from freezing.

For help turning unhealthy heat into healthy heat, contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We make sure Lorain, Elyria, and Oberlin homes are safe, healthy, comfortable, and energy-efficient.