Temperature Sensors: What is the Ideal Room Temperature?

Being able to control the temperature in your home is something that many of us take for granted until the moment we’re in a place where we can’t control it -- the office, the grocery store, a restaurant, a friend’s house, etc. Everyone has their own preferences in terms of what they think the ideal room temperature should be in order to be most comfortable. 

The problem is, when the seasons start to change and some days are colder or warmer than others, it can be uncomfortable to come home to a house that’s too cold or too warm for your liking (and, not Goldilocks’ “just right”). 

Thankfully, temperature sensors can help monitor your room temperature and combined with a smart home security system, you can ensure your home is not just the right temperature when you get home, but also protected from any damage that extreme temperatures can potentially cause.

What is the Average Room Temperature?

The average room temperature will certainly vary depending on a range of different factors, but in general, it should be about 68 degrees F. When a recipe says to leave something “at room temperature” or to “get it to room temperature”, this is approximately what they mean. Of course, if you’re a colder person, your home might be slightly warmer, and if you’re a warmer person, it might be kept colder. 

Ideal Room Temperature for a Home

Arguments over what temperature the thermostat should read will hopefully end right here, right now! Though the average room temperature is 68 degree F, the ideal room temperature for a home will be more of a range: between 62 degrees and 75 degrees F. 

You’ll also have to keep in mind how certain rooms in the home get. For instance, rooms that have a lot of windows might be colder than others, while rooms that get a lot of sunlight might be warmer. 

Also, depending on what type of heating or AC system you have, there might be circumstances in which one room of the house is a completely different temperature than others. Overtime, you should be able to figure out little tricks to get your home right where you need it to be. 

Ideal Room Temperature Depending on the Seasons

In the summertime, there’s nothing like walking in from the hot, sticky air into a cool, pleasant, air-conditioned room. The same goes for the winter. When it’s freezing outside, walking into a warm, heated room feels heavenly. 

In four-season climates (or, even three-season), you might find that you’re adjusting temperatures more than usual. But, in the summertime, it is between 68 degrees and 72 degrees F, but some people will be comfortable having ACs set to 75, especially to save energy and costs. Though, this depends on how effective your AC system is and how accurate the readings are.

In the winter, it might be tempting to crank the heat up (unless, again, you’re trying to be resourceful). But, the ideal temperature is also starting somewhere at 72 degrees F and seeing if you can go down to 68 degrees F. Remember that the home being too warm can make the air very dry, so consider a humidifier if you like the heat turned up. 

The Best Temperature for Sleeping

At night, it’s best to sleep cool -- no matter the season. In the winter when you have the heat on, consider lowering the thermostat to between 60 degrees and65 degrees F, and/or cracking a window to get in some fresh air. In the summertime, you might want to set your AC to a cooler temperature as well, to get the room also about 65 degrees F, give or take. Of course, sleeping right in front of the AC can make you feel sick!

What is a Temperature Sensor?

If all this talk about ideal temperatures is getting you heated or freezing you out, then you might wonder what you can do to get the adjustments out of your hands and get the room to where it’s just right. In basic terms, a temperature sensor is a device that can be used to detect the temperature of the home; and, most thermostats have these built in.

How to Keep Your Home at the Perfect Temperature

To keep your home the perfect temperature, always keep an eye on your thermostat. Or, consider investing in a smart thermostat that helps regulate and monitor the temperature of your home, in order to control the temperature remotely. This means that you can make it cooler or warmer while you’re out of the house, and set it to what you like right before you come home. That being said, smart thermostats are expensive, and there are other ways to monitor your home’s temperature when it really matters. Nowadays, there are temperature monitoring systems that can be used to not only read the temperature in your home, but to warn you of a problem. For instance, SimpliSafe’s temperature sensors which are pipe freeze sensors that help detect extreme temperatures, in order to prevent pipe freezing in the winter. Combined with professional monitoring, you can be notified when the temperature sensor reads 41 degrees F, so you don’t have to come home from vacation to find a disaster.