When the first real cold snap rolls across the Front Range, most of us head straight for the thermostat. The question we hear from Denver homeowners every fall is a simple one: what setting keeps the house comfortable without running up the heating bill? A few small changes to your thermostat program can make a noticeable difference all winter long, and none of them require you to shiver.
The Short Answer: Around 68°F While You’re Home and Awake
For most households, 68°F is the sweet spot during the hours you’re home and up and about. It’s warm enough for comfort in a sweater or light layers, and it keeps your furnace from running nonstop on the coldest days.
The real savings come from what happens when you’re asleep or out of the house. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, turning your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees for about eight hours a day can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling. For a typical Colorado winter, that adds up quickly.
Why a Lower Temperature Saves Money
Your home loses heat faster when the gap between indoor and outdoor temperatures is large. Lowering the setting shrinks that gap, so less heat escapes through walls, windows and the attic. Less heat lost means your system burns less fuel to replace it.
Many people believe a furnace works harder to warm a cool house back up than it would to hold a steady temperature. For a standard gas furnace, that simply isn’t true. The energy saved during the setback period is greater than the energy used to recover, which is why a programmed schedule beats leaving the thermostat at one number around the clock.
A Simple Winter Thermostat Schedule That Works
The most efficient program follows your family’s routine. Here’s a starting point that works well for many Denver homes with a gas furnace:
- Wake up (around 6 a.m.): 68°F, set to begin warming about 30 minutes before your alarm goes off.
- Leave for work or school (around 8 a.m.): 60 to 62°F while the house sits empty.
- Return home (around 5 p.m.): back to 68°F, timed so the house is cozy when you walk in.
- Bedtime (around 10 p.m.): 62 to 64°F, since most people sleep better in a cooler room anyway.
Think of these numbers as a guide rather than a rule. If 68°F feels chilly, try 69°F and keep the setbacks in place. You’ll still save a good amount compared to leaving the heat high all day.
Adjusting the Schedule for Your Household
Every family is different, and your program should reflect that. A home with a newborn, an older relative or someone working from home will need a different rhythm than a house that’s empty from 8 to 5. A few adjustments to consider:
- Working from home: skip the daytime setback, or drop just a degree or two and wear a layer.
- Infants and older adults: keep nighttime temperatures closer to 66 to 68°F for comfort and safety.
- Pets at home alone: most dogs and cats do fine in the low 60s, though short-haired breeds may appreciate a little more warmth.
- Winter travel: never set the thermostat below 55°F while you’re away, which helps protect your pipes from freezing.
Heat Pump Owners Should Use a Gentler Setback
If your home is heated by a heat pump, the rules change a bit. Large temperature drops can backfire because a heat pump may call on its auxiliary or backup heat strips to recover quickly. Those electric strips cost far more to run than the heat pump itself.
For most heat pump systems, a smaller setback of 2 to 4 degrees works better than a big overnight drop. A thermostat designed for heat pumps can also help by warming the house gradually and keeping backup heat in reserve. If you’re curious how today’s cold-climate models handle Colorado winters, our team can walk you through your heat pump options and service, and the Department of Energy offers a helpful overview of how heat pump systems work.
Smart Thermostats Make Efficiency Effortless
A programmable thermostat only saves money if the schedule actually gets used. Plenty of homeowners set it once, forget about it and then override it every evening. Smart thermostats take most of that guesswork off your plate.
Here are a few features that make a real difference during a Denver winter:
- Learning schedules that adapt to when your family is actually home.
- Geofencing, which uses your phone’s location to lower the heat when everyone leaves.
- Remote app control so you can warm the house on your drive home from the mountains.
- Energy reports showing when and how long your system runs each day.
- Filter and maintenance reminders that keep your system in good shape.
- Heat pump compatibility with smart recovery that limits expensive backup heat.
Not every smart thermostat works with every system, and some need extra wiring to run reliably. Our technicians can help you pick the right model and handle the thermostat installation and setup so your new schedule works from day one.
Common Thermostat Habits That Waste Energy
Even with a great schedule, a few everyday habits can quietly drive up your gas bill. We see these in Denver homes all the time:
- Cranking it up to 80°F to heat faster. Your furnace delivers heat at the same rate no matter the setting, so this only leads to overheating.
- Leaving the fan on “On” instead of “Auto.” A constantly running fan uses extra electricity and can push cooler air through the vents between cycles.
- A thermostat in a poor location. Direct sunlight, a nearby kitchen or a drafty hallway can all throw off its readings.
- Closing vents in unused rooms. This can create pressure problems in your ductwork and make the system work harder.
- Skipping filter changes. A clogged filter restricts airflow and lowers efficiency.
- Ignoring dead batteries or a blank screen. Many thermostats lose their programs when power fails.
When the Thermostat Isn’t the Real Problem
Sometimes a homeowner does everything right with their settings and the house still feels cold or the bills keep climbing. In those cases, the furnace itself may be the issue. Most furnaces last about 15 to 20 years, and efficiency drops as they age.
Watch for these signs that your heating system needs a closer look:
- Heating bills rising year after year without a change in your habits
- Rooms that never seem to reach the temperature on the thermostat
- The furnace turning on and off frequently, also called short cycling
- Strange noises like banging, rattling or high-pitched squealing
- A yellow or flickering burner flame instead of a steady blue one
- Repair calls becoming a regular part of every winter
If your system is showing its age, it may be time to talk about furnace replacement in Denver. A newer high-efficiency furnace paired with a well-programmed thermostat can lower your bills and keep your family comfortable for years to come.
What to Expect When Brothers Comes to Your Home
We’ve been a family operated Denver company since 1980, and our values haven’t changed: Family, Care, Excellence. We know that letting someone into your home is a matter of trust. That’s why we’ve built every step of our visit around making the experience easy, respectful and stress-free.
Confirmation Texts and Technician Bios
Once your appointment is booked, you’ll receive a confirmation text with the details. Before your technician arrives, we’ll send a technician bio with their photo and background so you know exactly who is coming to your door. It’s a small touch, and families tell us it brings real peace of mind.
Two-Hour Arrival Windows
Nobody wants to wait around all day for a service call. We offer two-hour arrival windows, and because our team is centrally dispatched, we can route the nearest available technician to your home efficiently. Prompt, Professional, Reliable is more than a slogan for us. It’s how we plan every day.
Shoe Covers and a Clean Workspace
Our technicians wear shoe covers before stepping inside, so your floors and carpets stay clean. When the work is done, they handle a thorough clean-up and leave your space the way they found it, or better. You shouldn’t have to pull out the vacuum after a furnace repair.
Follow-Up After the Job
Our care doesn’t end when the truck pulls away. We’ll follow up after your service to make sure everything is working as it should and that you’re happy with the result. If something isn’t right, we want to hear about it so we can make it right.
Every visit also comes with the promises our customers count on:
- No overtime charges, seven days a week
- Precise Price approved by you before any work begins
- Technician Seal of Safety for every member of our team
- Warehouse on Wheels trucks stocked to fix most problems in one visit
- Licensed and insured professionals
- 100% satisfaction guaranteed
At the heart of it all is a simple idea we share with every family we serve: WE CARE.
Stay Ahead of Winter With the Home Care Club
The easiest way to keep your heating system efficient is to catch small problems before they turn into cold-night emergencies. Our Home Care Club includes regular maintenance visits for your home’s systems, along with member perks that help you save throughout the year.
Members get peace of mind knowing their furnace has been inspected and tuned before the snow flies. If you have questions about what’s included, our Home Care Club FAQs page covers the details.
Ready for a Warmer, More Efficient Winter?
Whether you need help programming a new thermostat, a furnace check before the next storm or an honest opinion on replacement, our team is here for you. Call Now at (303) 468-2294 to talk with a friendly member of our staff.
Scheduling is simple: Call, Text or Online. You can also find reviews, hours and directions on the Brothers Plumbing, Heating & Electric Google profile. Book Today, Your Way!
What is the most efficient thermostat setting for winter?
For most homes, 68°F while you’re awake and home is a comfortable, efficient target. Lowering the temperature 7 to 10 degrees while you sleep or are away can save up to 10% a year on heating costs.
Is it cheaper to leave the heat at one temperature all day?
For homes with a gas furnace, a programmed setback almost always saves more than holding one steady temperature. Your home loses less heat while it’s cooler, and that savings outweighs the energy used to warm back up.
How low should I set my thermostat at night in winter?
Most families are comfortable with a nighttime setting between 62 and 64°F. Homes with infants or older adults may want to keep it closer to 66 to 68°F.
What temperature should I leave my thermostat on when I’m on vacation?
Keep it at 55°F or higher while you travel during the winter. Going lower increases the risk of frozen pipes, which can lead to costly water damage.
Should heat pump owners use the same thermostat schedule?
Not quite. Heat pumps do better with smaller setbacks of 2 to 4 degrees, since large drops can trigger expensive backup heat during recovery. A thermostat built for heat pumps helps manage this automatically.
Are smart thermostats worth it in Denver?
For many families, yes. Features like learning schedules, geofencing and remote app control make it easier to save energy without constantly adjusting the settings yourself.
Should my thermostat fan be set to “On” or “Auto” in winter?
“Auto” is the better choice for efficiency. It runs the fan only while the furnace is heating, which saves electricity and avoids blowing cooler air between cycles.
How do I know if my furnace needs replacing instead of a new thermostat?
Rising bills, uneven heating, frequent repairs and a furnace older than 15 years are common signs. A Brothers technician can inspect your system and give you an honest recommendation with a Precise Price before any work begins.
