Smart Thermostat Settings for Central Oregon: Best Temps for Winter Nights, Workdays, and Summer Peaks

Central Oregon is known for its major temperature swings, with cold winter nights and hot summer afternoons being the norm. As a local homeowner, you can optimize your energy consumption by installing a smart thermostat. However, this type of tool is only effective if it’s set up properly for your schedule and system type.

To help you stay comfortable all year long, we’ll look at some of the most popular starting temperatures for winter nights, workdays, and summertime peaks. While we’ll cover some of the most common mistakes in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), all of our recommendations are just starting points. Ultimately, the best settings for your home are determined by your family’s safety needs and personal comfort preferences.

Quick “Cheat Sheet” Temperatures

The most effective temperature is going to vary throughout the year. We’ll look at some of the recommended temperatures during the winter and summer for different times of day.

However, it’s important to note that sleeping temperatures can vary based on your health needs, comfort preferences, and the presence of children in the house. Additionally, some people simply like sleeping in a cooler environment.

Winter Starting Points

• Home and Awake: 68°F to 70°F
• Sleeping: 62°F to 66°F
• Away: 60°F to 64°F

Summer Starting Points

• Home and Awake: 75°F to 78°F
• Sleeping: 72°F to 75°F
• Away: 80°F to 82°F

Special Note: If you have a heat pump, scroll down to the heat pump section before you set your HVAC system for wintertime.

Why Smart Thermostat Settings Matter More in Central Oregon

Thanks to our location in Central Oregon, we experience big daily swings in the weather. This means your HVAC system has to recover quickly in the morning and be ready to combat peak heat during the afternoon. By setting the right schedule, you can reduce the risks of overcorrecting and cranking the heat too far in one direction. Smart thermostats are particularly helpful for people who have predictable routines or who use the away setting frequently.

Winter Thermostat Settings for Central Oregon Homes

Once winter arrives, it’s time to update your thermostat settings to maximize comfort and energy efficiency.

Best Winter Settings for Workdays

While each home is different, here’s an example of a good temperature schedule in Central Oregon.

• Wake (6 a.m. to 8 a.m.): 68°F to 70°F
• Away (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.): 60°F to 64°F
• Home (4 p.m. to 10 p.m.): 68°F to 70°F
• Sleep (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.): 62°F to 66°F

Best Winter Settings for Nights: Comfort Plus Savings

To help you reach the sweet spot between wintertime comfort and affordable energy bills, start by reducing your nighttime temperature so that it is 3°F to 6°F lower. Then, adjust as needed. If you wake up feeling cold, you can increase the temperature by 1°F each night until it feels just right.

Keep in mind that airflow problems can impact how cold each room feels. If your bedroom is much colder than the rest of the house, one of our HVAC technicians can troubleshoot and fix the airflow issues involved.

Weekend Winter Settings

On weekends, you should update the settings based on whether you are home or not. If you spend the day at home, set it so that you are comfortable throughout the day. You can still set the temperature back slightly at night, even if you don’t use the away setting during the day.

Summer Thermostat Settings for Central Oregon Peak Summer Heat

Once summertime arrives, it’s time to update your HVAC system again.

Best Summer Settings for Workdays

Each family has a different daily schedule. You can adjust this sample schedule based on when you are at work, at home, and asleep.

• Wake (6 a.m. to 8 a.m.): 74°F to 76°F
• Away (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.): 80°F to 82°F
• Home (4 p.m. to 10 p.m.): 76°F to 78°F
• Sleep (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.): 72°F to 75°F

Summer Peak Tips That Actually Work

To stay comfortable without breaking the bank, use the following summer cooling tips.

• Close the Blinds: During the hottest part of the day, close the blinds on the sunniest side of your house.
• Pre-Cool Your Home: If your home tends to heat up quickly or you have west-facing windows, pre-cool your home slightly.
• Use Ceiling Fans: By using ceiling fans, you can stay comfortable at a higher thermostat setting.

Heat Pump vs Furnace: The Settings Should Not Be the Same

Thanks to how energy efficient heat pumps are, more homes in Central Oregon are switching over. Because these units do not operate in the same way as furnaces, the way you set your temperature will also need to vary.

If You Heat With a Gas Furnace or Propane Furnace

Because gas and propane furnaces offer a high level of heat, recovery is easier. This means you can be more aggressive about night away temperatures because your furnace won’t have a difficult time recovering.

If You Heat With a Heat Pump

Heat pumps often use auxiliary heat to recover from major temperature differences, so you don’t want a large winter setback. Instead, keep the setback to just 1°F to 3°F. Then, your thermostat can handle a gradual recovery.

If You Have Dual Fuel

Dual fuel systems are designed to maximize the best of both worlds, offering a heat pump for efficiency and a gas backup. To ensure the best comfort and efficiency, it helps to have a pro set up your thermostat settings and lockout temperature.

Smart Thermostat Features Worth Using (And the Ones That Trip People Up)

To get the most out of your smart thermostat installation, try out the following features.

Scheduling

Scheduling is an effective tool for homes that have set routines. For the best results, stick to a basic schedule that sets different temperatures for time spent away, at home, and asleep.

Smart Recovery

Ideally, the system should start operating early enough that it can hit the target temperature by the time you are awake. Smart recovery helps you maximize comfort, but make sure it doesn’t rely on auxiliary heat all the time.

Geofencing and Auto-away

If your schedule changes constantly, let your smart thermostat sense when you are away and when you’re about to return home. Geofencing is especially effective if everyone has set up the app properly.

Temperature Swing or Cycle Rate Settings (Advanced)

This feature is a good option if your house is short-cycling or overshooting, but it needs to be fine-tuned by a professional.

Common Thermostat Mistakes That Raise Bills (And Wear Out Equipment)

Avoid these common mistakes to prevent unexpectedly high energy bills.

• Setting an excessive winter setback on a heat pump and then cranking the heat up in the morning.
• Constantly using manual override instead of adjusting the schedule.
• Overusing energy by keeping the fan in “On” mode all day.
• Setting your thermostat based on how one hot room or cold room feels instead of fixing your airflow.
• Letting sunlight, a TV, or a light get too close to the thermostat can influence its reading.

How to Fine-Tune Your Settings in 15 Minutes

To optimize your thermostat, pick a comfort baseline for each season. Spend three days testing a modest setback for sleep and away settings. Adjust by 1°F until you reach the right temperature level for aux heat usage, comfort, and system run time. If one area isn’t comfortable, focus on fixing its airflow instead of changing the temperature settings for your whole home.

When Thermostat “Issues” Are Really HVAC Issues

The following signs indicate that a thermostat problem is actually due to an HVAC issue.

• The system can’t reach the set temperature.
• Individual rooms are abnormally hot or cold.
• You notice poor airflow or unusual noises.
• The unit experiences short cycling.
• Despite running constantly, the heat pump is always behind.
• Although no changes were made, your energy consumption has jumped significantly since last year.

When to Call a Pro in Central Oregon

If you notice the following problems, it’s time to reach out to an HVAC professional for help.

• Your smart thermostat isn’t compatible with the HVAC system.
• Your heat pump often relies on auxiliary heat.
• The wiring is confusing.
• You may have duct leaks or airflow problems.
• Your system needs maintenance.
• You need help picking a schedule that balances comfort and cost.
• You need someone to install a smart thermostat upgrade.

FAQs

Over the years, we’ve heard a few common questions about how to set smart thermostats.

What temperature should I set my thermostat to at night in winter?

The best temperature for sleeping tends to be between 60°F and 67°F, with many people preferring around 65°F.

What temperature should I set it to while I’m at work?

When you’re away at work, you can save energy by raising the thermostat setting in the summer and lowering it in the winter. During the winter, drop the thermostat to 60°F to 64°F when you’re at work. In the summer, raise the temperature to 80°F to 82°F when you’re away. By changing your home’s temperature by 7°F to 10°F for just eight hours a day, you can save up to 10% per year on your heating and cooling costs.

Is it better to keep the same temperature all day?

In most cases, it’s a good idea to have the temperature vary during the day. Your comfort needs change based on whether you are at home, at work, or asleep. Additionally, reheating or recooling your home tends to cost less than maintaining the same temperature. However, if you have a radiant heater and a heat pump, it’s a good idea to invest in a smart thermostat.

Why does my heat pump say “Aux Heat” when I change the temperature?

There are a few reasons why your heat pump may say “Aux Heat.” If you set the temperature significantly higher or it’s especially cold out, the auxiliary heat may kick on to make up the difference.

With heat pumps, auxiliary heat is also used when the defrost mode is on. Heat pumps reverse direction when they defrost the outdoor coils, so auxiliary heat is necessary to keep your home warm while the heat pump completes its defrost cycle.

What is the best AC setting during Central Oregon summer peaks?

During summertime peaks, most homeowners will feel comfortable with a temperature range between 75°F and 78°F. When you’re away, you can maximize your energy efficiency by raising the temperature to between 80°F and 82°F.

While temperatures are lower at night, it can still feel quite warm. To help your family sleep comfortably at night, try adjusting the thermostat setting to between 72°F and 75°F.

Should I use Auto, Heat, Cool, or Emergency Heat?

It depends on the outdoor temperature and your comfort needs. Heat is used during cooler parts of the year. The cooling mode is for summertime. Meanwhile, the auto mode is an effective option for most of the year because it can efficiently manage heating and cooling to maintain your indoor temperature.

Finally, emergency heat is only intended for extreme situations. If the temperature is exceptionally cold or your heat pump can’t keep up, you may need to turn on the emergency heat mode.

Do smart thermostats really save money?

Absolutely. Smart thermostats are an efficient way to optimize your energy efficiency while maintaining your comfort. They are able to learn your habits, automate the temperature schedule, and provide convenient geofencing features. On average, investing in a smart thermostat can lower heating and cooling costs by an average of 8% per year.

Optimize Your Smart Thermostat for Central Oregon’s Climate

While there are general guidelines for maximizing your energy efficiency, the best smart thermostat settings will depend on your routine, comfort preferences, and the type of HVAC system you have.

In winter, focus on maintaining a steady level of comfort during the day and setting the temperature slightly back at night. This day-and-night difference should be slightly smaller if you have a heat pump so that your heat pump can easily keep up.

When summer arrives, plan your temperature settings around peak heat. Set a realistic away setting so that you can save money without overtaxing your system when you return.

If your system is struggling or switches to auxiliary heat a lot, we can help. From inconsistent temperatures to common maintenance problems, our HVAC technicians can inspect your unit and help you determine the best option.

Schedule your next inspection or smart thermostat installation today.