{"id":8669,"date":"2026-01-12T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.barronheating.com\/blog\/?p=8669"},"modified":"2026-01-16T07:37:54","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T15:37:54","slug":"should-i-change-how-i-use-my-thermostat-in-freezing-weather","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.barronheating.com\/blog\/should-i-change-how-i-use-my-thermostat-in-freezing-weather\/","title":{"rendered":"Should I Change How I Use My Thermostat in Freezing Weather?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-wp-embed is-provider-wistia-inc wp-block-embed-wistia-inc\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" title=\"Should I change how I use my thermostat in freezing weather? Video\" src=\"https:\/\/fast.wistia.net\/embed\/iframe\/12sbw88b17?dnt=1#?secret=VGNfQMYvL3\" data-secret=\"VGNfQMYvL3\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When freezing temperatures settle in, your thermostat becomes one of the most important tools in your home. If you live in a frigid climate, it\u2019s natural to wonder whether you should change how you use your thermostat during extreme cold. Should you keep the temperature the same all day? Turn it down at night? Crank it up when it feels chilly? The right approach can help you stay comfortable, protect your system, and avoid unnecessarily high energy bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what homeowners in cold-weather regions like ours should know about thermostat settings when winter is at its worst\u2014and when it\u2019s time to call a professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.barronheating.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Should-I-Change-How-I-Use-My-Thermostat-in-Freezing-Weather-.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"687\" src=\"https:\/\/www.barronheating.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Should-I-Change-How-I-Use-My-Thermostat-in-Freezing-Weather-.jpg\" alt=\"Should I Change How I Use My Thermostat in Freezing Weather?\" class=\"wp-image-8673\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.barronheating.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Should-I-Change-How-I-Use-My-Thermostat-in-Freezing-Weather-.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.barronheating.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Should-I-Change-How-I-Use-My-Thermostat-in-Freezing-Weather--300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.barronheating.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Should-I-Change-How-I-Use-My-Thermostat-in-Freezing-Weather--768x515.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep Your Home Consistently Warm (Don\u2019t \u201cPanic Turn\u201d the Heat)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In freezing weather, consistency matters. Many homeowners make the mistake of lowering the thermostat too far and then raising it dramatically to \u201ccatch up.\u201d This doesn\u2019t heat your home faster\u2014it simply keeps your furnace running longer and can create extra strain on the system. Your heater works best when it maintains a steady temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A good rule of thumb is to choose a comfortable baseline temperature and stick close to it during extreme cold. Most homes do well around the high 60s to low 70s, but comfort varies. The most important thing is avoiding wide temperature swings that can make your home uncomfortable and cause your system to work overtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don\u2019t Crank the Thermostat to Warm Up Faster<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your house feels cold, raising the thermostat from 68\u00b0 to 75\u00b0 won\u2019t heat the home faster. HVAC systems typically warm the air at a consistent rate, and setting it higher just means the system stays on longer. If you\u2019re frequently tempted to \u201cover-adjust\u201d your thermostat, it could be a sign your system isn\u2019t heating properly\u2014or your home has insulation or airflow issues that need attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Consider a Smart Thermostat for Better Control<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Smart thermostats can be helpful during freezing weather because they can learn your preferences, reduce unnecessary heating, and keep temperatures more stable. They also allow remote adjustments, so you can keep your home warm without wasting energy when you\u2019re away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When to Call for Professional HVAC Repairs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your home is too cold, uncomfortable, or struggling to maintain temperature, don\u2019t assume it\u2019s normal. Your system should be able to keep up, even during a cold snap. If your heater runs nonstop, blows lukewarm air, makes unusual noises, or your home won\u2019t reach the set temperature, it\u2019s time to call a professional HVAC technician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Extreme cold can expose problems like failing components, dirty burners, clogged filters, or airflow restrictions\u2014and the sooner you address them, the safer and more comfortable your home will be. Our team is on standby and ready to help when you call!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Our team of Home Performance Experts has served the I-5 corridor from Blaine to Marysville, Oak Harbor to Concrete, and the San Juan Islands since 1972 with a mission of Improving Lives\u2122. We look forward to serving you too! <a href=\"\/contact\/send-a-message\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Contact Barron Heating today for prompt repairs or assistance with your thermostat.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s what homeowners in cold-weather regions like ours should know about thermostat settings when winter is at its worst.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8673,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[333],"tags":[48,480],"class_list":["post-8669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hvac","tag-hvac","tag-thermostat"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.barronheating.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8669","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.barronheating.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.barronheating.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.barronheating.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.barronheating.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8669"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.barronheating.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8669\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8674,"href":"https:\/\/www.barronheating.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8669\/revisions\/8674"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.barronheating.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8673"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.barronheating.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8669"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.barronheating.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8669"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.barronheating.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}