What should the proper temp on a thermostat be inside your house in the winter?

Question

My wife says cold air kills germs. So the temp in my house is always cold. I say its better to be warm so I like to turn it up. What do you guys think?

Answer 1

Air that is "cold" actually helps to spread the Flu virus and air that is too "dry" will help cause sickness. Temperature is definately a personal thing but it should be at least 68 degrees to help you maintain a decent body temperature without having to walk around with a coat on. By law, Landlords must maintain occupied rental property at 68 degrees. I like my house at least 72 degrees but then I live in Wisconsin and it gets chilly! The other issue is that moist air holds heat better than dry air. A furnace can make your home drier than the desert which is about 20% humidity. Depending upon how cold it gets will cause a variance in how much humididity the air in you home needs. When it is 30 degrees outside I have humidifier set to 35% humidity. If there is condensation on the windows I turn it down to 30%. The humidity helps keep your nose, mouth and throat moist. If they get too dry, viruses and germs can find places to nestle. You skin will appreciate the moisture too. My cats appreciate it because I don't shock them when I pet them.

Answer 2

I am NOT a doctor

Actually cold air does kill germs.

Think about potato salad when you leave it on the counter. Germs from minute meat particles that have made their way into mayonnaise, as well as egg proteins that are part of the mayonnaise, multiply in warm, wet places. Placing the salad in the fridge inhibits this process.

The same applies to a lot of our diseases today. Most forms of the flu originate in Asiatic countries with a tropical climate where it is warm and the air is humid. I haven't come across any flu strains that are said to originate in Canada or Siberia for that matter. People who build up a mild resistance to cold are documented to live longer and are subject to less respiratory illness. One of the benefits of having snowbanks along the road is that they filer man-made pathogens from the air

Ideal temperature for your thermostat should be about 68F or about 20c. You can always add a warmer layer like another t-shirt or light sweater. Turning the thermostat down to 65 when you sleep will help you sleep more sound, reduce energy and save money.

The bedroom window should be open in the morning for half hour before your make the bed. The cool air will kill dust mites; it's their feces that people are allergic to and the light will encourage them to recede back into the mattress instead of trolling along the bedding for skin particles that were shed all night. Cold air contracts your nasal passages thus negating constriction that is caused by dry heat, emitting a fresh feeling to your senses. It also promotes better vascular circulation.

An open window also creates a barometric pressure change in the room which vacuums out stale odours like halitosis
carbon dioxide build up, radon and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Answer 3

Your unit is now 4 years old. Wash the outdoor unit fins thoroughly with a hose and kitchen spray cleaning soap (turn off the outdoor unit power while you do this). Clean your inside air filter and fan if it is dirty. Be sure that you have lots of air movement if the system fan is on. If the contractor added freon without finding and repairing a leak then the refrigerant will continue to leak and become a problem once again. A chilly 68f is colder than necessary, most have comfort in temperatures of 75f. Purchase an accurate thermometer and consider a warmer setting.

Answer 4

actually cold air does not kill germs, it does help if the temperature is below freezing. As far as proper temp on a thermostat in winter would be between 67 and 72

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Answer 5

You would need air about the 34 degrees that it is inside your fridge to impact germs and even then they would not be dead just not growing fast.

To be comfy use 70. To be OK and save on your heating bill use 69. To save even more during the hours you are in a warm bed use 68 and turn it up again in the morning. To save money when no one is home you could use 65.