Your Home by the Numbers: The Temperatures, Ratios, and Levels That Every Homeowner Should Know

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Whether you own your own dwelling house or are renting from a landlord , you have a raft to stay on top of . Among other thing , you want to keep your appliances functioning in good order and operating efficiently , adjust the thermostat to maximise comfort andenergy saving , and make indisputable that monitors and alert are set up correctly to keep you and your roll in the hay I safe . Juggling these labor and remain up to date on good practice can be challenge . refer the guide below to help oneself you focalize on the numbers that matter the most , include the ideal thermoregulator setting , insecure radon level that require remediation , the idealistic SEER military rank for an air conditioner or HVAC system , and more .

1. Indoor Air Temperature for Winter

Keeping your home comfortable during stale conditions is important , but you do n’t want to neutralize energy in the appendage and end up face a Brobdingnagian utility bill . According to theU.S. Department of Energy , 68 degrees is the ideal wintertime set for your thermostat . This temperature is high enough to keep the house warm , but not so in high spirits that you ’ll be wasting energy . To keep your bills even lower and further boil down your energy footprint , drop the temperature by a few academic degree when you go to quietus or before you leave the house . you may hold open up to 10 per centum over the grade of a year by set up your thermostat 7 to 10 degree cool than normal for at least 8 time of day each twenty-four hours . If you do n’t have one already , invest in a programmable thermostat so you may coiffure schedules that match your distinctive approach and goings .

2. Indoor Air Temperature for Summer

For conserving vim over the summer , the ideal indoor air temperature setting is 78 degrees Fahrenheit . you may further keep down chill costs and cut down on the amount of vigour that is consume by turning off the air conditioner , or at least increasing the temperature setting on the thermoregulator , whenever you go out your home . If you have aprogrammable thermostat , you may fix it to automatically raise the temperature at times when you ’re consistently away from the star sign .

3. Indoor Humidity Level

High indoor humidness layer make it more probable that mold or bacteria will originate in your space . High humidity can also lead to condensation on floors and walls , and can cause problem for those lose from allergy or asthma attack . On the impudent side , however , excessively low indoor humidity levels can cause your nozzle and throat to feel dry and scratchy , and nettle your skin and eyes . According to theMayo Clinic , an indoor humidness level between 30 and 50 percent is idealistic . By keepinghumidity levelswithin this range , you’re able to void the problem associated with gamy and low humidity .

4. Hot Water Heater Temperature

TheU.S. Department of Energyrecommends settinghousehold water heaterthermostats to 120 degrees Fahrenheit . If you have n’t adapt your pee heater ’s factory setting , your whole may be set to a higher temperature , often 140 degrees Fahrenheit . Leaving it this gamey can cost you as much as $ 61 each year just for the Department of Energy required to reheat water system that ’s been sit in the tank . When you factor in the amount of raging water supply used for shower , washing dishes , and doing wash , an unnecessarily in high spirits setting could lift up cost you up to an extra $ 400 each year .

5. Refrigerator Temperature

If your icebox is too warm , the food you ’re storing inside it can spoil more cursorily because bacterium manifold more rapidly when intellectual nourishment is not by rights chilled . observe your refrigerator too warm leads to food waste and unwrap your kinsperson to the risk of food for thought poisoning . According to theU.S. Food and Drug Administration , refrigerators should be set no higher than 40 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure foods are chilled decent and bacteria are n’t able to procreate and threaten your health . To supervise the temperature inside your icebox , it ’s a just estimate to enthrone in an appliance thermometer . While many models these daylight have build - in thermostats , some do not , and those that do may not be precise .

6. Freezer Temperature

It ’s of import to set your freezer to the ideal temperature to help foods last longer and protect the health and safety of everyone in the plate . According tothe FDA , freezers should be set to 0 degrees Fahrenheit . Again , even if your unit has a built - in thermostat , apply an appliance thermometer to verify that your freezer is in reality maintaining the ideal temperature .

7. Placement of Carbon Monoxide Detectors

TheEnvironmental Protection Agencyrecommends installing carbon monoxide detectors on each flooring of a home . Proper position is vital for ensuring that the unit will operate as intended . Always follow the producer ’s rule of thumb for installation , but in general if you ’re installing a atomic number 6 monoxide sensing element on a wall , it should be locate at least 6 inch above the floor and at least 6 inches below the ceiling . If you require to set up the detector on the ceiling , it must be a lower limit of 6 inches away from the wall .

8. Radon Cutoff Levels

Radon is present in both indoor and outdoor air , but while outdoor radon usually spread quickly , high level of radon indoors can have serious health consequences . It is estimated that exposure to radon gas causes about 21,000 lung genus Cancer deaths each yr , so it ’s a good idea tomonitor your home ’s indoor aviation lineament . If the radon level in your rest home is greater than or equal to 4 picocuries per liter ( pCi / L),the EPArecommends having a radon mitigation system installed . Even if your family ’s radon floor strike between 2 pCi / 50 and 4 pCi / L , a radon extenuation system of rules may still be the safest choice .

9. Air Conditioner SEER Rating

If you ’re in the process of shopping for a raw air conditioner or HVAC unit , then it is important tounderstand SEER rating . SEER ( Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio ) ratings are cypher by separate a unit ’s cooling mental ability by the amount of power it uses . Air conditioner with a mellow SEER rating will be the most efficient options , maintain your home nerveless while minimize energy use .

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woman adjusting thermostat in home with open plan dining space in background