Setback is the practice of programming your thermostat to operate at a lower (or higher, in summer) temperature when you’re away or asleep. Energy.gov estimates roughly 1% reduction in heating costs per 1°F of setback over 8 hours.
Recommended Colorado setback strategy (winter)
- Home and awake: 68°F
- Away or asleep: 60-62°F — 6-8°F setback, ~6-8% savings
- Pre-warm 30-45 minutes before alarm via smart thermostat
- Don’t go below 55°F — pipe freeze risk in older Colorado homes
Heat pump setback caveat
Heat Pumps Don’t Like Deep Setbacks
For heat pumps, deep setbacks (8°F+) often trigger backup electric heat during recovery, wiping out the savings. Stick to smaller setbacks (3-5°F) on heat pumps, or use a smart thermostat that understands heat-pump recovery.
The “myth” of constant-temperature being cheaper
Some HVAC contractors claim setbacks waste energy because the system “works harder” to recover. This is wrong for furnaces and AC. Heat transfer to outside is proportional to temperature difference — a colder house loses heat slower, so cumulative energy use is lower with setback.
Related: Smart Thermostat, Heat Pump.
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Right Way Mechanical is a family-owned HVAC contractor serving Wheat Ridge, Arvada, west Denver, and the Colorado foothills.