What is the coldest you should leave your house in the winter?

You should leave your house at a minimum of 50-55°F (10-13°C) in winter to prevent frozen pipes, though 55-60°F (13-16°C) is a safer range, especially if you have uninsulated pipes or live in very cold climates. For comfort and health, especially for the vulnerable, keeping it around 60-68°F (16-20°C) is recommended when home, but the lower setting protects your home's plumbing when vacant.

What's the coldest you should let your house get in the winter?

In general, it's recommended to set your thermostat to 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. This may seem high compared to the freezing point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but it'll help keep the interior of the floor and wall cavities – where your plumbing is often located – safely above freezing temperatures.

How cold is too cold to leave your house?

The recommended temperature to leave a vacant house in the winter is generally 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher (1). This temperature helps to keep the interior of the floor and wall cavities, where plumbing is often located, safely above freezing temperatures.

At what temperature does a house become unsafe?

These policy recommendations are aligned with many of the goals identified in the 2022 California Extreme Heat Action Plan (EHAP). The state should consider a general maximum safe indoor air temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit (27.8 degrees Celsius) for residential dwelling units.

What should I set my thermostat to when it's below freezing?

55-60 degrees is the accepted standard for winter unoccupied temperature setting when Below Freezing temperatures are expected for extended periods of time.

5 Reasons Your House is COLD in Winter!

What should your thermostat be set at in winter?

For winter, set your thermostat to around 68°F (20°C) when you're home and awake for a balance of comfort and savings, lower it to 60-67°F (15-19°C) when sleeping or away for energy efficiency, and keep it around 55-60°F (13-15°C) for vacation to prevent freezing pipes. Using a programmable or smart thermostat to automate these changes saves energy and money.
 

What temperature to keep a house in winter so pipes don't freeze?

To prevent pipes from freezing in winter, keep your thermostat set to a minimum of 50-55°F (10-13°C), ideally around 68°F (20°C) when home, and maintain that temperature consistently, even if you're away for a short period, as pipes can freeze in unheated areas or with drafts. Open cabinet doors under sinks, seal drafts, and consider trickling a faucet during extreme cold snaps to ensure warm air reaches pipes and water keeps moving. 

Can you get sick from keeping your house too cold?

Yes, a cold house can make you sick by weakening your immune system, worsening existing respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, and increasing the risk of infections, heart attacks, and strokes, especially for vulnerable groups like the elderly or young children. While a cold house doesn't directly cause viruses like colds or flu, it creates conditions that make it harder for your body to fight them off and stresses your circulatory system.
 

Can you leave a house unheated in the winter?

Keep your home and plumbing warm

Set the temperature at 55°F or higher to help keep the interior of the floor and wall cavities, where the water piping is likely located, above freezing temperatures. Keeping room and cabinet doors open can also help heat to circulate and warm the areas where pipes are located.

Can a cold room affect blood pressure?

“Cold is a well-known stimulus to the autonomic nervous system. Temperature receptors in the skin send messages to the brain which regulates sympathetic outflow, including vasomotor control of blood vessels. “Cold causes vasoconstriction and blood pressure rise, while heat causes vasodilation and blood pressure fall.

Can you get sick from sleeping in a cold room?

Cold temperatures themselves do not cause infections. Instead, they influence a combination of biological, environmental and social factors that make people more vulnerable to respiratory illnesses, especially during the winter months. Colds and flu are caused by viruses, not by cold air.

Is 20 degrees cold enough to freeze pipes?

Yes, pipes are at significant risk of freezing at 20 degrees Fahrenheit, especially if they are uninsulated or in unheated areas, with freezing potentially occurring in as little as a few hours, though it often takes around six hours for insulated pipes to freeze at that temperature. While water freezes at 32°F, exposed pipes in temperatures around 20°F for extended periods (like 6+ hours) can develop ice and burst, so taking preventative measures like insulating pipes, opening cabinets, and letting faucets drip is crucial. 

Is it okay my house is set at 65 in the winter?

Yes, setting your house to 65°F in the winter is generally okay and recommended for saving energy, but it depends on your comfort and health, as colder can pose risks for vulnerable individuals like seniors or infants, while also preventing frozen pipes; for comfort, the Department of Energy suggests 68°F when home, but 60-65°F when away or sleeping is great for savings and health, though keeping it above freezing (around 55-60°F) is crucial to prevent damage. 

What temperature do most people keep their house at?

A normal house temperature for comfort is generally between 68°F and 72°F (20°C - 22°C) during the day, but this varies by personal preference, location, and activity, with lower temperatures (around 60-67°F or 15-19°C) recommended for sleeping to save energy and improve rest. The U.S. Department of Energy https://www.telegram.com/story/news/2025/10/16/theres-an-ideal-temperature-for-your-home-heat-what-it-is-massachusetts-heat-fall-winter-gas-oil/86699497007/ (DOE) suggests 68-70°F when awake and lower when away or sleeping, noting savings of up to 10% on heating/cooling bills by adjusting.
 

Is it cheaper to have heating on low all day?

For most homes, it's not cheaper to leave the heating on low all the time; it's generally more efficient to heat your home only when you need it, as constant heating uses energy all day, especially in poorly insulated houses. However, if you have a modern, well-insulated home, a heat pump, or spend most of your time at home, keeping it on a low, consistent temperature (around 18-19°C) might be better, with the U.S. Department of Energy suggesting dropping the thermostat 7-10 degrees for 8 hours saves 10%. 

How long does it take to heat a house from 50 to 70?

Heating a house from 50°F to 70°F (a 20°F rise) can take 2 to 8 hours or more, depending heavily on your heating system's power, home size, insulation quality, and outside temperature; a well-insulated home with a strong furnace might take 2-4 hours, while a large, drafty home could take much longer, with estimates ranging from 1-3 degrees per hour for a furnace.
 

What temperature should I leave my unoccupied house in the winter?

When on winter vacation, set your thermostat between 50°F and 60°F (10°C - 15.5°C) to prevent frozen pipes and save energy, avoiding temperatures below 50°F to protect plumbing and prevent mold/mildew, and consider opening cabinet doors for pipes under sinks. A smart thermostat can help you schedule temperature changes for your return. 

How do the Amish keep warm in the winter?

Amish people stay warm in winter primarily with wood-burning stoves, using coal or propane as alternatives, and supplementing with thick clothing, quilts, and hot water bottles, while also using smart home design like passive solar and strategic window placement to retain heat from the sun and central wood heat. They rely on natural methods and non-electric heat sources to keep their homes and buggies warm during cold months, often gathering wood in the fall.
 

Will pipes freeze in a house without heat?

When pipes are not insulated well or aren't being used, and have no heating source, the water in the pipes will begin to freeze.

How cold is unsafe inside a house?

What Temperature is Considered Too Cold for Your House? Experts typically recommend maintaining an indoor temperature of at least 60°F to ensure both comfort and safety. Temperatures below this threshold can create risks for your health and home.

Can living in a cold house cause pneumonia?

Cold homes are not good for your health. Problems and diseases linked to cold homes range from high blood pressure and common colds, to heart attacks and pneumonia. Besides poor health, cold-related illnesses cause absence from work, social isolation, and sleep deprivation.

Can breathing in cold air make you sick?

Cold air can cause your airways to narrow. This can increase the amount of mucus you produce and make it harder to breathe. Cold, dry air can also irritate your airways and make symptoms like wheezing, coughing and breathlessness worse.

At what temperature do I need to drip faucets?

You should drip faucets when temperatures drop below freezing (32°F), especially if they'll stay below 20°F for several hours, to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting, focusing on faucets on exterior walls or in unheated areas like crawl spaces, with a slow, steady stream (not just a drop) of cold water to keep pressure moving through the lines.
 

Where do pipes freeze first?

The pipes that freeze first are typically those exposed to severe cold, like those on exterior walls, in attics, crawl spaces, or garages, especially if they're made of copper, which loses heat quickly. The freezing starts on the inside surface of the pipe and works its way in, with the water on the inner wall freezing first and expanding, causing the pipe to burst along its length where stress is highest.
 

Will pipes freeze if the house is 55 degrees?

Keeping the heat to 55 degrees Fahrenheit is a good idea. This should provide enough heat to keep the pipes warm and to prevent any water inside from freezing.