What temperature to set the thermostat on when on winter vacation

Jun 11, 2024

Tick this off your to-do list before hitting the road to avoid burst pipes and high bills during the cold snap

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You've packed your suitcase, completed some slightly paranoid kitchen appliance checks, and you're officially ready for a winter vacation. But what about the heating?

The cold snap has left many of us wondering what the best temperature to set the thermostat might be on when we're away over the holidays. Exposing our homes to extreme temperature fluctuations isn't ideal for many reasons, from putting strain on your furnace to making your favorite houseplants wilt.

Regardless of the kind of home heating we may have, no one wants to leave their homes warmer than necessary right now. But we don't want to come back to an igloo – or worse, burst pipes – either. Below, experts explain how to get a happy medium.

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'Usually, the standard setback temperature for most heating systems is 59-60˚F,' says Jason Orme, speaker at the Homebuilding & Renovating Shows, and author of The Self Build Dream. 'This allows the house to retain key warmth in the fabric and makes it relatively easy to get back up to warm levels (66-69˚F) when needed.'

Crucially, it depends on how long you'll be out of town and what the weather is doing — the longer you're away and the colder it is, the more important it will be to set your heating to come on. However, the sweet spot is generally considered to be around 55˚F. It's tempting to turn the heating off entirely to cut energy bills if you're not away for many nights. But bear in mind that allowing your home to reach extremely low temperatures could mean you're greeted by water pipes that have frozen and burst on your return. This is both costly to repair and massively inconvenient.

Next, we asked Glenn Wiseman, RASDT, RHDT, Sales Manager at Top Hat Home Comfort Services, who said that if you are leaving the house for a week or more, reducing your temperature significantly will help you save money on heating costs. 'There are several ways to determine the best temperature for your home,' he comments. 'Usually, 55˚F is suggested for climates with cold winters, as it is cool enough to bring down the overall heating cost, yet warm enough to ensure your pipes don't burst or other damages caused by cold temperatures don't come up.'

'Another guideline is to set your thermostat to 4˚F below its winter room temperature. You should check the expected weather for the duration of your vacation to see if there will be any cold fronts where the external temperature is below 32˚F for a few days or more,' Glenn advises. Situations like these highlight the benefits of smart thermostats, which allow you to control your heating from your phone.

In cases where the temperature will be this low, consider other ways to winterize your house, like turning off the main water shutoff valve to cut off the flow to your pipes and then draining all your faucets. Doing this will reduce the risk of water remaining in the pipes that could expand and cause them to burst. This is especially important if you're off on a long vacation and your home is going to be experiencing very cold temperatures. Glenn explains that if you do this, you can set your thermostat as low as 50˚F safely.

We asked Glenn just how low you can go when setting your thermostat, and he said that if you are occupying the home, generally 68˚F will be the most comfortable and safe option for everyone. 'However, when leaving home for long durations, I would only go past the 55˚F mark if someone regularly checks up on the house to ensure there are no plumbing issues,' he shares.

'Once again, consider that 55˚F mark to be your golden rule, and only go below it if your pipes are preserved for the winter by a professional or someone with particular know-how.' With the thermostat set at just the right temperature, it's time to relax and get into the festive spirit without worrying about any nasty surprises back at home.

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Millie Hurst is Section Editor at Homes & Gardens, overseeing the Solved section, which provides readers with practical advice for their homes. She has been in the world of digital journalism for six years, having previously worked as Senior SEO Editor at News UK both in London and New York. She joined the Future team two years ago, working across a range of homes brands. Millie formerly worked as Senior Content Editor at Ideal Home, taking care of evergreen articles that help and inspire people to make the most of their homes and outdoor spaces. Millie has a degree in French and Italian and lives in North London.

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