What Temperature Should You Set Your Heater to in Winter?

Set Your Wall Controller to 68 Degrees During the Day and Drop It at Night

Setting your wall temperature controller (thermostat) to 68 degrees Fahrenheit while you are awake and at home balances everyday comfort with manageable heating bills. Dressed in normal indoor winter clothing, such as long pants, a sweater, and socks, most people stay comfortable at this level without feeling chilly. At 68 degrees, your furnace or heat pump cycles at steady, predictable intervals instead of running non-stop against freezing outdoor air.

Pushing the dial up to 72 or 75 degrees drives up your monthly energy bill quickly. Every degree you add above 68 degrees forces your equipment to work noticeably harder against the cold air seeping through exterior walls and windows. Keeping the setting moderate prevents unnecessary thermal loss through exterior glass and ceiling insulation.

Also, turning the dial up to 80 degrees will not heat a cold room faster. Heating systems release warmth at a fixed rate regardless of what number you choose. Setting a very high number only guarantees that the heater runs past your comfort level, overheats the space, and wastes fuel.

Lower the Heat to 65 Degrees Before Going to Bed

Dialing the temperature down between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit at bedtime improves sleep quality while lowering your energy demand. The human body naturally cools down as it prepares for deep rest. A bedroom kept around 65 degrees supports this biological shift, preventing the night sweats, tossing, and dry nasal passages caused by overheated indoor air.

Warm pajamas, flannel sheets, and an extra quilt provide direct physical warmth, meaning your central heating system does not need to warm an entire empty room while you sleep. Dialing back the temperature for eight hours each night significantly reduces total furnace runtime during the coldest stretch of the day.

If 60 degrees feels too chilly when your feet touch the floor in the morning, lower the dial gradually. Drop it two degrees below your daytime setting for a week, then drop it another two degrees once your family adjusts. This gradual step-down lets everyone sleep comfortably without feeling shocked by sudden morning cold.

Never Let the House Drop Below 55 Degrees When You Travel

Turning your heating system completely off when leaving for a trip is an expensive mistake. Even if an empty house does not need warmth for people, your concealed plumbing inside walls, basements, and crawlspaces depends on circulating heat to prevent catastrophic freezing.

Keep your wall temperature controller set to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit whenever you travel during winter. Even when the central controller reads 55 degrees, exterior wall cavities and unheated crawlspaces can sit ten degrees colder. If water freezes inside a pipe, it expands with enough pressure to crack copper and plastic lines, leading to flooded rooms once the ice melts.

Follow this safety checklist before leaving your home unattended in freezing weather:

• Keep your system switched to "Heat" mode with the dial set no lower than 55 degrees.
• Open kitchen and bathroom vanity doors so warm indoor air reaches supply lines under the sinks.
• Allow an exterior faucet to drip slightly to keep water moving through vulnerable pipes during hard freezes.
• Ask a neighbor to check on the house if outdoor temperatures drop below zero.

Homes with uninsulated subfloors, like those using a heater for a mobile home, face even greater risks because supply lines run closer to outdoor air. Keeping the dial slightly higher provides essential protection for those vulnerable pipes.

Bump the Dial Up for Infants, Older Family Members, and Small Pets

The standard 68-degree baseline works well for healthy adults, but certain family members need warmer rooms. Infants cannot regulate body temperature, shiver effectively, or pull blankets over themselves safely.

Keep a nursery between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Overheating an infant poses serious safety risks, while dropping below 68 degrees leaves a baby uncomfortable and fussy. Place a small thermometer near the crib to monitor the room air temperature directly, because nurseries often run cooler than the main hallway.

Older adults also need higher settings. Slower blood circulation, thinner skin, and lower activity levels make cool rooms feel painful. Keeping the living area around 70 to 72 degrees prevents joint stiffness, protects against hypothermia, and keeps elderly family members comfortable without requiring heavy indoor coats.

Pets also have varying limits based on their breed and size. Thick-coated dogs do well at 65 degrees, but short-haired cats, small puppies, and elderly dogs feel the cold quickly. Provide elevated pet beds, extra fleece blankets, or draft-free rest areas so pets stay warm without needing to raise the whole-house temperature.

Heat Only the Room You Are Using to Give Your Main Furnace a Break

Warming only the room you are currently using allows you to stay warm where you sit while dropping the temperature across the rest of the house. By setting your central wall controller to 62 degrees and using a portable space heater in your home office or den, you avoid paying to heat empty rooms.

Standard portable electric space heaters in the United States draw up to 1,500 watts, which is about 12.5 amps on a standard 120-volt household circuit. To prevent electrical overloads and avoid tripping standard 15-amp breakers, always plug your heater directly into a dedicated wall outlet. Never plug a space heater into an extension cord, power strip, or surge protector, because these auxiliary cords can overheat, melt, and start electrical fires.

Maintain a strict 3-foot safety buffer around any portable heater. Keep blankets, drapes, papers, upholstered furniture, and pet bedding at least 36 inches away from the front and sides of the appliance.

For drafty transitional areas like sunrooms, central vents rarely provide enough warmth. Choosing a dedicated heater for an enclosed porch lets you enjoy that bonus space without forcing your primary furnace to run constantly.

Trap Indoor Warmth and Block Cold Air Drafts Before Touching the Dial

Before pushing the wall controller higher, make sure your home holds onto the heat it already has. Simple everyday adjustments make a 68-degree room feel cozy without increasing your fuel usage.

Use this practical checklist to block drafts and keep heat where you need it:

• Reverse your ceiling fan to run clockwise on low speed, which pushes warm air down from the ceiling to living level.
• Open curtains on south-facing windows during sunny daytime hours, then close them tightly at dusk to block evening window drafts.
• Slide fabric draft stoppers or rolled towels along the base of exterior doors and drafty basement entries.
• Run a humidifier to keep indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent, since dry winter air speeds up skin evaporation and makes rooms feel colder than they are.
• Wear warm slippers, thermal socks, and layered knit sweaters to hold your natural body warmth while sitting still.

Choose the Right Supplemental Heater to Warm Individual Living Spaces

Adding a portable supplemental heater is an effective way to stay comfortable while leaving your central heating system at a lower baseline. The right choice depends on the size of your room and how quickly you need warmth.

For home offices, craft areas, or closed bedrooms where you want fast heat, choose a unit with a ceramic heating element that warms up in seconds. These compact designs feature a small fan that pushes warm air across the room right toward your desk or chair.

For bedrooms or living spaces used for many hours, choose a silent radiator heater that circulates steady, lasting warmth. These oil-filled or panel units warm the room air gradually without fan noise, creating even comfort that remains even after the unit turns off.

Always check the packaging for vital safety features before buying. Confirm the unit includes an automatic overheat sensor that shuts the unit off if internal parts get dangerously hot, a tip-over safety switch that cuts power instantly if the unit is knocked over or tilted, and an official safety certification mark like UL, ETL, or CSA on the product label.

1

Reflective Insulation Roll 59inch x 10Ft Double Bubble Reflective Aluminum

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  BWP Score is a ranking system developed by Bestwinterproducts.com. BWP score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

  9.4
• Brand
  dojobkinb

Key specs2

Material and thickness

Double-sided aluminum foil with 2mm bubble core

Draft and cold blocking

The radiant barrier reflects indoor heat back into the room during winter to stop cold drafts at bare windows without running the heater higher.

Pros & cons42

Pros

• Double-sided reflective aluminum film with a 2mm bubble core reflects radiant heat away from drafty windows
• Wide 59-inch roll width provides broad single-sheet coverage for large garage doors, roofs, or walls
• Flexible foil material cuts easily with household scissors to fit odd-shaped window panes and RV openings
• Round hole surface texture helps increase heat reflection while dampening outside sound transmission

Cons

• Mounting tape and adhesive pads are not included in the package and must be purchased separately
• Arrives folded rather than rolled, creating initial surface creases that take time to flatten out

2

Reflective Insulation Roll 23.6inch x 50Ft Double Bubble Reflective Aluminum

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  9.4
• Brand
  dojobkinb

Key specs2

Coverage area

23.6 inches wide by 50 feet long for extended coverage

Application range

The narrow roll format fits neatly between standard wall framing studs and along narrow window sills to seal off cold air entry points.

Pros & cons42

Pros

• Continuous 50-foot roll length covers multiple standard windows or long duct runs from a single package
• Double-sided aluminum barrier helps trap indoor warmth and block exterior winter chill through glass
• Lightweight 2mm bubble core provides thermal insulation and sound dampening without adding heavy bulk
• Trims easily with standard scissors to line custom vehicle panels, RV vents, or attic rafters

Cons

• Narrow 23.6-inch roll width requires seaming multiple strips together across large wall or door sections
• Installation adhesive is not supplied in the box, requiring separate double-sided tape or spray glue

3

150W Utility De-Icer Submergible Cast Aluminum Chicken Water Heater for

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  8.8
• Brand
  Tiflev

Key specs2

Thermostat operating range

Turns on below 35 degrees F and turns off near 77 F

Freeze prevention capacity

Maintains liquid water down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit in bird baths and 5-gallon containers without overheating the water supply.

Pros & cons42

Pros

• Built-in thermostat powers on below 35 degrees Fahrenheit and shuts off near 77 degrees to save electricity
• Rust-resistant cast aluminum body safely rests in plastic, structural foam, or metal water containers
• Efficient 150-watt element keeps small 5-gallon waterers from freezing in outdoor winter cold down to 10 degrees
• Cold-resistant power cord stays pliable during harsh sub-freezing winter weather

Cons

• Sized only for small containers up to 5 gallons, lacking power for larger stock tanks
• Must never be plugged in dry, requiring full water submersion before connecting power

4

250W Utility De-Icer Submergible Cast Aluminum Chicken Water Heater for

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  8.8
• Brand
  Tiflev

Key specs2

Thermostat operating range

Turns on below 35 degrees F and turns off near 77 F

Container volume rating

Rated for 5 to 25 gallon tanks down to 10 degrees F

Pros & cons42

Pros

• Higher 250-watt output prevents ice formation in larger 5 to 25 gallon livestock tanks down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit
• Automatic thermostat turns power on below 35 degrees Fahrenheit and disconnects near 77 degrees
• Durable cast aluminum enclosure with anti-rust coating protects water cleanliness across plastic and metal tanks
• Weatherproof power cord resists stiffening and cracking during sustained freezing outdoor conditions

Cons

• Higher 250-watt power draw uses more electricity than smaller 150-watt units when active
• Requires a dedicated GFCI protected outlet to guard against electrical shock hazards around water

5

HEATIT ET-21 Freeze Thermostatically Controlled Outlet On at 38F /Off

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  8.6
• Brand
  HEATIT

Key specs2

Temperature switching points

Turns on below 38 degrees F and turns off near 50 F

Electrical load capacity

15 amps maximum load at 120 VAC for dry indoor locations

Pros & cons42

Pros

• Automatically turns connected heaters on below 38 degrees Fahrenheit and off at 50 degrees to prevent pipe freezes
• Visual indicator light signals immediately when the internal switch is cold enough to energize the outlet
• Handles standard household heating loads up to 15 amps on 120-volt circuits
• Backed by a CSA safety listing for dry indoor locations and a two-year limited warranty

Cons

• Rated strictly for dry locations, preventing direct exposure to outdoor rain, snow, or damp crawlspaces
• Fixed temperature switching points cannot be manually adjusted to custom room warmth levels

6

8P Garage Door Insulation Panels Kit 0.24"T Double Bubble Reflective

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  8.6
• Brand
  MYFAMIREA

Key specs2

Material and thickness

6mm thick double bubble sheet with reflective foil

Pre-cut package contents

• 8 pre-cut panels sized 20.5 inches by 54 inches
• 120 pieces of double-sided installation tape
• Waterproof and fire-resistant dual bubble construction

Pros & cons42

Pros

• Pre-cut 20.5-inch by 54-inch panel dimensions match standard garage door sections without heavy trimming
• Thick 6mm double-bubble core provides greater thermal resistance against cold air than thinner 3mm rolls
• Package includes 120 pieces of double-sided mounting tape for immediate installation out of the box
• Fire-resistant and waterproof aluminized construction withstands unheated garage temperature swings

Cons

• Pre-cut panel sizing can leave gaps on non-standard garage panels or oversized doors without custom trimming
• Tightly packed sheets require roughly 15 minutes to relax packaging creases before tape application

7

electric space heaters for indoor use: plug in portable small

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  8.2
• Brand
  Tenhitoys

Key specs2

Heating output and speeds

Provides 1200 watts of ceramic PTC heating across low and high settings to warm small rooms or personal desk areas up to 300 square feet.

Built-in safety shutoffs

• Elastic mechanical tip-over sensor at the base
• Internal overheat cut-off protection
• Top-mounted carry handle for safe repositioning

Pros & cons42

Pros

• Fast PTC ceramic heating element produces noticeable warmth within 3 seconds of switching on
• Automatic tip-over switch cuts electrical power instantly if pets or children knock the unit over
• Compact footprint with an integrated carry handle moves easily between bedside tables and office desks
• Built-in overheat protection shuts the heater down before internal components reach unsafe temperatures

Cons

• Fan-forced ceramic element creates ambient airflow noise that may be heard in quiet bedrooms
• Ships with an internal protective shipping cover that must be removed manually before first operation

8

SUIDREAMS 370W Space Heater, Wall Outlet Electric Space Heater as

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  7.4
• Brand
  SUIDREAMS

Key specs2

Digital temperature control

Adjustable between 59 and 89 degrees F with LED display

Outlet mount design

Plugs straight into a standard 110-volt wall receptacle with a 180-degree rotating plug, heating personal spaces up to 100 square feet.

Pros & cons42

Pros

• Low 370-watt power draw provides localized bedroom or desk heat without overloading standard household circuits
• Precise digital thermostat allows setting specific target temperatures between 59 and 89 degrees Fahrenheit
• Direct wall-plug design with a 180-degree swivel plug eliminates trailing floor cords entirely
• Quiet blower operates below 36 decibels with an adjustable 1 to 12 hour automatic shut-off timer

Cons

• Limited 370-watt output is restricted to small personal zones or rooms up to 100 square feet
• Direct outlet mounting occupies wall socket space and requires adequate surrounding clearance from curtains

Last update on 2026-09-30 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

FAQs

Does turning the dial higher make the room warm up faster?

No, setting your wall temperature controller to a higher number does not make the heat come out faster. Furnaces and heat pumps produce warmth at a steady speed regardless of the target number you choose. Setting the dial higher only makes the system run longer, which overheats the space and drives up your energy bill.

Can I turn my heater completely off while I am away at work?

Shutting the heating system off entirely while you are gone is not recommended in cold weather. When the heat is off, your walls, floors, and furniture lose all stored heat, forcing the system to work harder for hours to recover when you return. Lowering the dial to 60 or 62 degrees while at work saves money without letting the building chill completely.

What should I do if a wall outlet feels warm while using a space heater?

Turn the heater off immediately, unplug the power cord, and stop using that outlet. A warm or discolored outlet cover points to loose wiring, worn internal contacts, or an overloaded household circuit. Allow the outlet to cool, plug the heater into an alternate dedicated wall outlet in another room, and have a licensed electrician inspect the circuit.

How low can indoor temperatures drop before water pipes freeze?

Pipes risk freezing whenever outdoor temperatures drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit and the indoor air falls below 55 degrees. Plumbing running through exterior walls, unheated crawlspaces, and enclosed sink cabinets cools down first because warm air does not reach those spots easily. Maintaining a minimum setting of 55 degrees protects your plumbing from catastrophic freeze damage.