Minimum home temperature in Winter?

Jan 12th, 2018 1:06 pm

#1

crystallight [OP]: Deal Addict; Dec 27, 2011; 2500 posts; 1033 upvotes; Toronto

Jan 12th, 2018 1:06 pm

What’s the safest minimum temperature to set my thermostat in the winter for when I’m away at work or on vacation? I currently have it at 15 but wondering if I could go even lower such as 12?
Also, is it bad if there is a somewhat large range between the temperature I have it set when I’m away vs at home? For example I have it at 20 when I’m at home, so that’s a 5 degree difference compared to when I'm away.

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Jan 12th, 2018 1:55 pm

#2

Cas77: Deal Fanatic; May 12, 2004; 9500 posts; 3805 upvotes; Ottawa

Jan 12th, 2018 1:55 pm

Call your insurance company to see what their threshold is for coverage, nobody here can answer that for you.

Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it.
- Mark Twain

Jan 12th, 2018 2:06 pm

#3

FrancisBacon: Deal Addict; May 12, 2014; 1151 posts; 597 upvotes; Montreal

Jan 12th, 2018 2:06 pm

Don't do it. The minimal savings won't be worth it if there's a power failure, broken window (hail, thief, stray baseball, ...), or other events and your pipes freeze.

Jan 12th, 2018 2:49 pm

#4

jwslam: Member; Feb 26, 2011; 320 posts; 265 upvotes; Calgary

Jan 12th, 2018 2:49 pm

I had my house down to 12 and the smoke alarms don't stop ringing.
Minimum for me now is 14.

Jan 12th, 2018 3:11 pm

#5

engineered: Deal Fanatic; Feb 11, 2007; 6450 posts; 4665 upvotes; Oakville

Jan 12th, 2018 3:11 pm

You have worry about the temp the pipes in your walls will get to. It will be much lower than your tstat int he middle of your house. I don't normally go under 17, and not under 15 when away for long periods.

Jan 12th, 2018 3:30 pm

#6

Chingyul: Deal Addict; Oct 12, 2006; 1471 posts; 171 upvotes; Alberta

Jan 12th, 2018 3:30 pm

jwslam wrote: ↑
Jan 12th, 2018 2:49 pm
I had my house down to 12 and the smoke alarms don't stop ringing.
Minimum for me now is 14.

Weird that low temp sets off the smoke detector.
I've had mine at 15. I feels it's pretty safe as the basement with the furnace is unfinished and it's also where all the water lines are, so the pipes are way warmer than the upstairs.

Jan 12th, 2018 4:31 pm

#7

Jerico: Deal Addict; Jan 25, 2007; 3691 posts; 1127 upvotes; Paris

Jan 12th, 2018 4:31 pm

We keep cottage at 14. Generator backup, furnace, 2 gas fireplaces in event of failure. Used to go down to 10, too cold

Gbill2004: Thanks but I'll just smell the couch before/if I buy it.

jonnyb: I go in there like PICASSO and toss the glue everywhere, I don't care what house I'm on.

Jan 12th, 2018 7:01 pm

#8

hierophant: Sr. Member; Feb 4, 2010; 765 posts; 214 upvotes

Jan 12th, 2018 7:01 pm

jwslam wrote: ↑
Jan 12th, 2018 2:49 pm
I had my house down to 12 and the smoke alarms don't stop ringing.
Minimum for me now is 14.

I don't understand the connection. Why would the smoke alarms go off?

Jan 12th, 2018 7:55 pm

#9

georvu: Deal Addict; Feb 4, 2015; 3075 posts; 620 upvotes; Canada, Eh!!

Jan 12th, 2018 7:55 pm

Jazmina wrote: ↑
Jan 12th, 2018 7:01 pm
I don't understand the connection. Why would the smoke alarms go off?

Battery powered and to some extent hard wired do act up in cold temps.

https://www.boards.ie/b/thread/2055790889

+2

Jan 12th, 2018 8:12 pm

#10

Gee: Deal Expert; Aug 2, 2004; 27502 posts; 3494 upvotes; East Gwillimbury

Jan 12th, 2018 8:12 pm

I have mine set at 17 C at night and during the day when no one is at home. When people are at home, it is set to 20 C

Nothing Here

Heatware

Jan 12th, 2018 8:25 pm

#11

1chinaman: Jr. Member; Jan 19, 2013; 194 posts; 66 upvotes; 613

Jan 12th, 2018 8:25 pm

Most recent furnaces state minimum return air temperature of 15C

Jan 13th, 2018 12:03 am

#12

adams7: Sr. Member; May 8, 2007; 767 posts; 162 upvotes; Fraser Valley, BC

Jan 13th, 2018 12:03 am

I set my unoccupied upstairs bedrooms and bathroom to 10C (electric heat upstairs). An upstairs bathroom that gets used is set to about 14C nightly and up to 22C for short periods in the day. Downstairs setting the forced-air gas furnace thermostat all the way down at night the temperature won't go below about 13C (set up to about 20C in day). Have not noticed any problems due to keeping the temperatures rather low.

I was worried the large temperature fluctuation might cause drywall cracks but none happened. No mould or moisture problems (besides some condensation on cold days on the cheap aluminum frame windows). I open a window and use vent fans to get rid of cooking and bathroom moisture.

Jan 13th, 2018 2:42 am

#13

Jerico: Deal Addict; Jan 25, 2007; 3691 posts; 1127 upvotes; Paris

Jan 13th, 2018 2:42 am

adams7 wrote: ↑
Jan 13th, 2018 12:03 am
I set my unoccupied upstairs bedrooms and bathroom to 10C (electric heat upstairs). An upstairs bathroom that gets used is set to about 14C nightly and up to 22C for short periods in the day. Downstairs setting the forced-air gas furnace thermostat all the way down at night the temperature won't go below about 13C (set up to about 20C in day). Have not noticed any problems due to keeping the temperatures rather low.

I was worried the large temperature fluctuation might cause drywall cracks but none happened. No mould or moisture problems (besides some condensation on cold days on the cheap aluminum frame windows). I open a window and use vent fans to get rid of cooking and bathroom moisture.

13? Are you a reindeer?

Gbill2004: Thanks but I'll just smell the couch before/if I buy it.

jonnyb: I go in there like PICASSO and toss the glue everywhere, I don't care what house I'm on.

Jan 13th, 2018 7:49 am

#14

jeeva86: Deal Addict; Jul 4, 2005; 4969 posts; 274 upvotes; Ottawa

Jan 13th, 2018 7:49 am

20C when at home? I’m still in a condo but always been using 24c!

Heatware

Jan 13th, 2018 9:19 am

#15

jwslam: Member; Feb 26, 2011; 320 posts; 265 upvotes; Calgary

Jan 13th, 2018 9:19 am

jeeva86 wrote: ↑
Jan 13th, 2018 7:49 am
20C when at home? I’m still in a condo but always been using 24c!

You're the guy that's keeping all your 20°C neighbours warm!

+3